Paoletti Estates Winery

Paoletti Estates Winery is an Italian family estate in Calistoga that produces Tuscan-influenced wines alongside classic Napa Cabernet, bringing the warmth and hospitality of an Italian farmhouse to the northern end of the valley. Founded in 1994 by the Paoletti family, who trace their roots to Tuscany, the estate occupies 16 acres of Calistoga benchland where the warm climate produces bold, generously flavored wines that recall the family's Italian homeland. The tasting experience includes food pairings that emphasize the Italian conviction that wine exists to make food better and food exists to make wine better.

The 16-acre vineyard sits on the warm Calistoga benchland, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Muscat di Canelli. The variety selection reflects the family's dual identity: Napa Valley winemakers who are also Italian to their core. The warm Calistoga climate is well suited to both the Bordeaux and Italian varieties, producing fruit of rich, ripe character. The Sangiovese, in particular, develops the bright acidity and cherry flavors that the variety is known for in Tuscany, while the Calistoga warmth adds a California generosity that the Tuscan climate does not always provide.

Winemaker Paul Shortino produces wines that honor both Italian and Napa Valley traditions. The Cabernet is rich and well-structured, showing Calistoga's warm-climate character. The Sangiovese is bright and food-friendly, and the Muscat di Canelli is a sweet, aromatic dessert wine that the family pairs with Italian pastries. The overall portfolio is designed for the dinner table, with each wine crafted to complement food rather than stand alone as a tasting room showpiece.

The tasting room experience includes optional food pairings that highlight the Italian philosophy at the heart of the winemaking. Small bites of Italian-inspired cuisine accompany each wine, demonstrating how the wines come alive with food. The atmosphere is warm and family-oriented, with the Paoletti hospitality creating an experience that feels like a visit to an Italian farmhouse. Walk-in visitors are welcome, and the $40 tasting fee is fair for the wine-and-food combination.

Paoletti demonstrates that Calistoga's warm climate is ideal for the Italian varieties that most of the valley overlooks. The Sangiovese and Muscat thrive in conditions that mirror their Mediterranean homeland, and the family's genuine Italian heritage ensures that the wines are produced with an authenticity that imitations cannot replicate.