Paesano Restaurant And Wine Bar
Ann Arbor's Italian Wine Anchor, Done Right
Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Italian
Reviewed April 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Paesano reads like a love letter to the Italian peninsula — and it means it. You open it expecting the usual Pinot Grigio-and-Chianti combo platter, and instead find yourself staring down Barolo, Brunello, and Amarone sitting comfortably within a $30–$120 range. For Ann Arbor, that's a genuine statement.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 150 to 250 bottles deep and stays firmly planted in Italian terroir — which is exactly the right call for a kitchen built around housemade pasta and osso buco. The heavy hitters are all present: Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino anchor the reds, Amarone della Valpolicella adds some drama, and Chianti Classico covers the everyday-drinking middle ground. Pinot Grigio delle Venezie handles the white side of things, though the list could use more depth beyond the northeastern Italy classics — a Vermentino or Fiano wouldn't hurt. Wine Spectator has recognized this program with an Award of Excellence since 2020, and the Italian focus earns that credential.
By the Glass
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a solid spread for a neighborhood Italian spot, and the $10–$18 price range keeps things approachable. We'd expect a rotating mix of the crowd-pleasing Pinot Grigio and Chianti alongside at least one or two of the more serious bottles — though without confirmed rotation, it's hard to say how often the pours get refreshed.
Chianti Classico — $30
At the low end of the bottle range, a solid Chianti Classico at Paesano gives you everything you want with the pasta and the pizza — bright acidity, Sangiovese structure, food-friendly all the way through — without denting the dinner budget.
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie
Most people order it out of reflex and move on, but a well-sourced Pinot Grigio delle Venezie is a seriously underrated food wine — crisp, mineral-driven, and a natural match for the branzino. Don't sleep on it just because it sounds like an airport order.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone is a special-occasion wine that demands time and attention — and at a busy dinner service in a neighborhood Italian spot, you're probably not getting the full experience. At the top of the price range here, the value math gets harder to justify unless you're planning to linger.
Barolo + Osso buco
Barolo is basically engineered for braised meat — the tannin structure and dried cherry depth cut right through the richness of a slow-braised veal shank and make each bite taste better than the last. This is the move at Paesano.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Paesano is doing the right things with wine in a city that doesn't always demand it — a focused Italian list at fair prices, anchored by serious bottles and served in a room that actually cares about the food. Send a friend here on a date night and tell them to order the Barolo with the osso buco.
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