The Story of Italia Wine Cellars
After more than 40 years working in the wine industry in both London and New York City, Paolo moved southwest to Swindon to fulfil his dream of serving both the local community and the private sector with carefully selected family-estate wines.
At Italia Wine Cellars, our portfolio is sourced from small, independent wineries that truly represent the authenticity, harmony, and quality of Italian winemaking, for people who prefer to drink better rather than settle for mass-produced supermarket wines.
We search for wines with genuine stories behind them, not manufactured marketing about “passion for excellence” that makes your eyes roll, but real stories about dedicated people doing remarkable things with grapes.
Our Mission
Our mission is to showcase not only Italy’s well-known classics, but also its hidden gems: rare and lesser-known grape varieties crafted into exceptional wines by small, passionate producers who respect their land, traditions, and heritage.
We work directly with trusted producers and suppliers to bring authentic wines to our customers at competitive prices.
Founded on decades of industry experience, Italia Wine Cellars is an independent wine merchant specialising in premium Italian wines — from everyday drinking wines to rare and collectible bottles.
About
Although born in Italy, Paolo developed his passion for wine while living and working in London during the early 1980s.
During this period, he worked at Wine Cellars under the late Nicholas Belfrage Master of Wine, Director of Wine Cellars and respected author of numerous wine books on Italian wine.
He later joined Richard Hobson Master of Wine, at Italian Wine Agencies, also known as Griersons Wine Merchants, where he had the privilege of meeting and working alongside Michael Garner, author of Barolo: Tar and Roses and other influential wine publications.
In 1993, Paolo attended the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Wine School in London, where he earned the Higher Certificate Examination Level 3 qualification.
To broaden his international experience further, Paolo moved to New York City and worked with the President Leonardo LoCascio of Winebow, one of America’s leading ambassadors for Italian wine.
These formative experiences provided him with a deep understanding and appreciation of Italian wine, combining professional development with extensive international travel and hands-on industry experience.
Today, Italia Wine Cellars reflects that lifelong journey, offering carefully selected wines with authenticity, character, and a genuine connection to the people and places behind every bottle.
