Wine & Spirits at Paolo’s

Sommelier Jalil Samavarchian’s wine and liquor selections are carefully chosen for quality, and Paolo’s strives to offer a diverse and well-balanced assortment of domestic and internationally crafted wines uniquely suited to our customers’ tastes.

Paolo’s has been a consistent winner of the Wine Spectator’s Best of Excellence award.

Home to one of the Bay Area’s most extensive wine cellars, Paolo’s is continually adding to its library of rare wines and carries approximately 450 wines on its list, with a total inventory of approximately 6,500 bottles at any given time. Paolo’s has three temperature-controlled wine rooms, two of which can be viewed from dining rooms.

Paolo’s rotates 18–20 wines by the glass at any given time with a selection of both domestics and imports. In general, four of the (reserve) selections are culled from the wine list with the other four wines purchased specifically for the wine glass programme. In addition, Paolo’s has a selection of 24 vintage ports ranging from 1927 through 1997. Paolo’s also carries a selection of non-vintage port, Tawny port, and Madeira.

For its clientele’s enjoyment, Paolo’s also offers an extensive selection of quality grappa, cognac, single malt-scotch and cigars, which may be enjoyed in the heated, outdoor loggia.

Enjoy a refreshing update to the champagne cocktail!

Ombretta di Paolo

(Shadow of Paolo)

A unique blend of Italian sparkling wine, tangerine vodka, artichoke liqueur, garnished with candied orange peel.

The Story of Ombretta di Paolo

January 1997

Jalil Samavarchian, Paolo’s maître d’ and sommelier, enters an international competition sponsored by Carpene Malvolti, producers of Prosecco, to create a new sparkling wine cocktail.

November 1997

From a field of 500 entries representing 23 countries, Paolo’s Ombretta is one of 12 finalists. Jalil Samavarchian wins a week’s all expenses paid trip to Venice for the contest’s judging round at the legendary Hotel Gritti, a 15th century Doge’s palace.

December 1997

The panel of international judges in Venice awards Ombretta di Paolo and its creator the grand prize: the Golden Flute, a three-foot, one-of-a-kind hand blown champagne flute.