A taste of Italy has arrived in Oskaloosa (IA), thanks to a woman with a vision of bringing Italian culture and cuisine to the heart of the Midwest. Paola Cipollina grew up in Genoa, Italy, an entire ocean away from small town Iowa. Her career, first in the fashion industry, then in film making, has led her to Milan, Italy; Los Angeles, California; and now to Oskaloosa, where she hopes to spread Italian culture through food and togetherness by opening her own shop, Rosso and Wine.

Rosso and Wine is a boutique-style Italian grocery store, which celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 10, 2022. Cipollina, who opened the shop with her business partner, Chiara Regazzi, says the desire to open the shop arose, in part, after moving to Oskaloosa during the COVID-19 pandemic and longing for some real Italian food.