Fortunately for us, Leonardo had the habit of writing, drawing and jotting down every idea and intuition in a notebook. It is thanks to all these writings and sheets that we today understand the breadth of his work, the multifaceted nature of his genius and the contemporaneity of his thought.
The largest and most important collection of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings and notes is the Codex Atlanticus, consisting of 1,119 sheets with approximately 1,750 autograph drawings, projects, annotations and studies ranging from 1478 to the year of his death, 1519. Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus is housed in Milan in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana.
It was precisely on the occasion of the five hundredth anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death, celebrated in 2019, that the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan organised the exhibition Secrets of the Codex Atlanticus. Leonardo at the Ambrosiana.
Beyond the extraordinary anatomical drawings and studies of the human body, in the Codex Atlanticus we find valuable notes that reveal Leonardo’s keen interest in agronomy and his expertise in wine. In particular, it contains precise indications on wine consumption, making him something of a precursor to responsible drinking. He writes in the Codex Atlanticus (folio 213 verso): “And the wine be temperate, little and often. Not outside of meals, nor on an empty stomach”. This means drinking quality wine, avoiding excess and during meals.
It is from this insight that Cantine Leonardo da Vinci created Leonardo Geniale, an innovative wine format – 187 ml – that represents the ideal quantity for “Leonardian” consumption and enjoyment. Leonardo Geniale is designed for those who wish to enjoy the pleasure of a fine wine, perfumed and fragrant, in the right measure and with practical packaging, ideal for accompanying every meal wherever you go.
The Codex Atlanticus is above all a journey through Leonardo’s formidable mind, an inexhaustible treasure of inspiration: preparatory drawings of his works, studies of mathematics, astronomy, mechanics, philosophical reflections and also – as with wine – practical insights linked to everyday life.
Wine guide
Food & Wine
Art & Culture
Wine guide
Food & Wine
