Five Questions With Melissa Marotta-Paolicelli and Angela Marotta: Building a Legacy of Wine, Family, and Hospitality at Two Sisters Vineyards
For sisters Melissa Marotta-Paolicelli and Angela Marotta, building Two Sisters Vineyards has always been about more than producing exceptional wine. Inspired by their Italian upbringing, their father’s passion for winemaking, and a shared love of Niagara-on-the-Lake, they set out to create a destination that brought together the things they valued most: quality, hospitality, and meaningful experiences.
Since opening in 2014, the sisters have transformed that vision into a growing collection of premium wine and hospitality destinations, including Two Sisters Vineyards, Stone Eagle Winery, and 11th POST on Queen. With plans to expand further into luxury hospitality, they’ve continued to build on their original vision while drawing on their complementary strengths and shared family values.
In this edition of Five Questions With, Melissa Marotta-Paolicelli and Angela Marotta share what it takes to build a distinctive Canadian brand, how their relationship as sisters has shaped their approach to leadership, and why staying true to their vision remains central to everything they do.
1. Two Sisters Vineyards began with a shared vision between two sisters. What inspired you to enter the wine industry, and how has your vision for the business evolved since you first started?
Melissa: Growing up in an Italian family, wine, food and hospitality were always an important part of our lives. We also grew up in a very entrepreneurial family with strong family values. We wanted to bring our personal experiences of our family travels and our father’s love of winemaking to Niagara on the Lake, a region that we have loved since we were children. We approached the industry with a personal perspective and through the eyes of the consumer, creating experiences we would want to experience if we were our own guests. Since opening Two Sisters Vineyards in late 2014, our commitment to quality and our vision to produce exceptional wines has remained with utmost importance. That has allowed us to expand with 11th POST on Queen in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake that offers elevated comfort food and our newest winery Stone Eagle that crafts ultra-premium wines and has a restaurant and events space.
2. The Canadian wine industry is both competitive and deeply rooted in tradition. How have you approached building a distinctive luxury brand, and what have you learned about standing out in a crowded market?
Angela: We have always made it a priority to produce premium quality wines and ensure the highest standards in service and wine education throughout both our wineries. It starts in the vineyards. We follow careful farming practices that include handing tending to the vines throughout the seasons and cutting off fruit for lower yields to ensure we produce from fruit that has reached its optimum in a natural way. Collaborating with our wine maker and giving him the tools and freedom he needs to consistently meet his highest standards in wine making is very important to us and the brand. The quality of the grape far exceeds the quantity of fruit each and every year. That is luxury. The attention to detail and the focus we have in ensuring we bottle only the best from our barrel and tank program is what luxury represents. This extends to the importance we place on overall design and the service we give to each customer and consumer. We want our guests to feel cared for and appreciated each time they visit us. From the wine programming to the dining experience – ensuring the guest has a memorable experience is very important for us. It reinforces their connection to our brands (TSV and Stone Eagle) and has them enjoying our wines in the comfort of their homes and as wine club members. It is giving them that sense of community they feel each time they walk through our doors or open that bottle of wine.
3. Building a business with family brings a unique dynamic to entrepreneurship. How do your individual strengths complement one another, and how has your relationship as sisters shaped the way you lead?
Melissa: We have always shared the same values and vision, but between the both of us, we are different which has worked to our advantage. Angela focuses on strategic planning, financial oversight and operations, I focus on brand positioning, marketing and overall guest experience. We respect each other’s strengths and have naturally evolved into our roles over the years. Being sisters also means we understand each other on a very personal level. We are each other’s greatest supporters, we give each other advise, challenge one another and give guidance when needed.
4. As women entrepreneurs, you’ve built a business in an industry that has historically been male dominated. What challenges have you encountered along the way, and how have those experiences influenced the kind of business and workplace you’ve created?
Angela: We’ve never felt that being women should define what we can or cannot accomplish. We were fortunate to grow up in a family where hard work, determination and believing in yourself were always encouraged. Of course, building a business comes with moments of uncertainty, and we’ve had to learn to trust our instincts. We also believe that women bring a valuable perspective to hospitality, particularly in understanding the emotional connection people have with experiences. We try to carry that same sensitivity into our workplace by listening, mentoring and creating a culture where everyone feels valued and proud to be part of what we’re building.
5. As you look to the future of Two Sisters Vineyards, where do you see the greatest opportunities for growth, and what advice would you offer other women looking to turn an ambitious idea into a lasting business?
Melissa: When looking into the future, for us it’s about continuing to evolve and finding new ways to share our passion for wine, food and hospitality that will continue for generations. With Two Sisters Vineyards, Stone Eagle Winery, 11th POST on Queen, and now the exciting opening of the St. Regis Hotel in spring of 2028, we are continuing to expand our vision into luxury hospitality while remaining true to the values that brought us here.
Angela: Our advice to other women is to believe in your vision, trust your instincts and try not to be influence on things that don’t feel authentic to you. Surround yourself with people who share your values, be willing to learn and never compromise on quality. Building something meaningful takes patience, hard work and perseverance, but seeing that vision come to life is incredibly rewarding.