Meet Denise Righetti

We were lucky to catch up with Denise Righetti recently and have shared our conversation below.

Denise, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
When I first started my wine journey with Wines for Humanity, I’ll be honest — imposter syndrome was real. I didn’t even know how to open a bottle of wine using a proper wine key! At my earliest wine tastings, I was so embarrassed that I’d literally turn my back to the group and use one of those openers where the little wings would fly up as you twisted the corkscrew deeper into the cork. I was terrified someone would notice that I didn’t really know what I was doing.

But instead of giving up, I leaned in. I practiced, I studied, and I took every opportunity to host tastings, even when I felt nervous. Over time, through years of training and conducting hundreds of events with Wines for Humanity, my confidence grew. What once felt intimidating eventually became second nature — from opening bottles smoothly to leading guests through professional wine tastings with ease and joy

.Now, fifteen years later, I look back and smile at that woman who used to hide her bottle opener. That same nervous energy that once made me doubt myself is what pushed me to keep learning and growing. Imposter syndrome didn’t disappear overnight — I just learned to move through it, one pour at a time.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m the Founder and Chief Foodie Officer of Savor Our City, an award-winning culinary-focused event planning company headquartered in Boca Raton and serving clients nationwide. What began as a local food tour company has grown into a brand that curates immersive culinary experiences — from food and wine tours to cooking classes, mixology workshops, and Iron Chef-style team-building events for corporate and social groups.

Our mission is to create meaningful connections through food, culture, and community. Every experience we design celebrates local flavor while supporting small businesses, restaurants, and artisans. That sense of connection and giving back has always been at the heart of what we do.

Right now, I’m especially excited about our upcoming Savor Boca Centennial Celebration, happening Saturday, December 6, 2025 in Downtown Boca Raton. The event will feature two experiences in one delicious day — a family-friendly Historical Photo Scavenger Hunt in the morning and an afternoon Self-Guided Centennial Tasting Tour, where guests can enjoy lite bites and decade-themed cocktails from the 1920s to today. A limited number of VIP tickets will be available which will take place over the same 3 hours as the self-guided and will include a guided tour with elevated food & beverage tastings at 4 stops.

A portion of proceeds will benefit Brain Bowl Events, which supports Alzheimer’s awareness and local community programs. As a longtime Boca resident, producing this event is my way of showing love for my city — bringing people together to celebrate 100 years of Boca Raton while supporting a cause close to my heart. For more info or to purchase tickets to this once-in-a-centennial event, visit SavorBoca.com

At Savor Our City, we believe food has the power to connect, inspire, and make a difference — one bite, one sip, and one shared experience at a time.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
In building Savor Our City over the past decade, I’ve learned that success in entrepreneurship isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about having the right mindset. Looking back, the three most impactful qualities that have shaped my journey are resourcefulness, relationship building, and passion with purpose.

When I launched Savor Our City, I didn’t have a blueprint — I just had an idea, a passion for food and community, and a determination to figure things out as I went. That’s where resourcefulness came in. Whether it was designing tours, finding venues, or learning new tech tools, I became comfortable adapting and learning on the fly. My advice to anyone starting out is: don’t wait to have everything figured out — start where you are and learn as you go.

The second quality is relationship building. My business has grown because of the connections I’ve nurtured — with chefs, restaurant owners, meeting and event planners, DMCs, artisans, and suppliers. Success in any field really comes down to people. Listen, collaborate, and lift others up along the way.

And finally, passion and purpose. You can teach skills, but you can’t teach passion. My love for what I do — creating experiences that bring people together and support local communities — keeps me going even when things get tough. For anyone early in their journey, find what lights you up and align your work with it. When you lead with purpose, opportunities have a way of finding you.

How would you describe your ideal client?
Our ideal clients are DMCs, meeting, convention, and event planners, hotels, cruise lines, and corporate groups — really anyone responsible for planning something special for a group in a city they may or may not be familiar with.

We also partner with in-house event teams and companies that organize group experiences such as team-building activities, networking events, client appreciation outings, or milestone celebrations.

At Savor Our City, we help clients accomplish their goals easily and on budget — whether that means designing a luxury, intimate culinary experience for two or producing a large-scale community event for hundreds.

Our clients value creativity, professionalism, and collaboration. They trust us to bring their vision to life through custom culinary tours, cooking and mixology classes, wine tastings, and immersive cultural experiences that connect people through food and community.

Simply put, we’re the go-to partner for creating memorable, meaningful group experiences nationwide.

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