About Us
It all started with six tons of extra grapes...
When a local grape harvester showed up at with six tons of Zinfandel grapes that he was willing to give away, Tobin “Toby” James, a young assistant winemaker at the time, asked if he could have the grapes to make his own wine.
"Sure kid, knock yourself out," the owner replied.
A year and a half later, Toby’s first wine—the now-famous 1985 Blue Moon Zinfandel—won double gold medals, and a spot on The Wine Spectator’s coveted "Top 100 Wines of the Year.” Tobin James Cellars was born.
For the next few years, Toby quietly produced his own popular small-batch wines, tasting and selling them out of a local wine shop in Paso Robles. Then in 1993, Toby finally took the plunge and built Tobin James Cellars.
In 1996, Toby was joined by partners and winemakers, Lance and Claire Silver, who updated and expanded the winery. They also launched the “James Gang” Wine Club, California’s most popular wine club.
Paso Robles in a glass
Located eight miles east of Paso Robles on Highway 46, Tobin James Cellars sits among 71 acres of vineyards and oak dotted hills. Built from the ground up on the site of the old “10-mile Stagecoach Stop,” our old-fashioned western-style tasting room saloon embraces the rough and rugged frontier history of Paso Robles, California.
In fact, the first thing you’ll see as you stroll into the bustling tasting room is our grand antique 1860's Brunswick mahogany bar from Blue Eye, Missouri. Just place your booted foot on the brass rail of the bar and sample our exciting lineup of wines. Our incredible staff will guide you through our enticing selection.
Over the years, we’ve added two additional custom-made bars to our tasting room and our artisan grotto. Our grotto features an Italian pizza oven, which is a hit at our parties. Bring a picnic and share a bottle of wine in our imaginative paradise.
Come visit Tobin James Cellars for a truly authentic (and fun!) Paso Robles wine tasting experience. Find out why it’s all true!
Our grand antique Brunswick Bar
Our rounded bar
Our newest bar
Our grotto
Take your photo here!
Yellow House
We’ve even restored and converted the old stagecoach stop into a comfortable and themed 3-suite guest house. For wine club members only. One of the great perks of being part of our “James Gang” wine club.
Tobin James “James Gang” Wine Club
Can’t make it to our tasting room? No problem! Join the “James Gang” Wine Club and get (8) bottles of Tobin James Cellars’ best varietals and blends shipped to your door twice a year.
Lance and Claire Silver initially started the Tobin James Wine Club in 1997 as a way to share their favorite wines with friends and Tobin James fans. But what started as a casual club of wine enthusiasts grew into one of the largest wine clubs on the west coast.
Become a part of our “James Gang” family for twice-yearly shipments of Lance and Claire’s favorite wines—and of course your special wine club gift in every box (hand-designed by Claire)!
Meet the Owners
Tobin James Cellars is family owned and operated by Tobin James, Lance Silver, and Claire Silver. Lance and Claire Silver met Tobin “Toby” James in 1996 on a quest to either buy an existing winery or start a new one. The trio quickly clicked and knew that a partnership would answer their dreams. The three partners make a perfect match between winemaking and business expertise.
Toby
Tobin James
Co-owner/Founding winemaker
Tobin “Toby” was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent every summer of his youth working on his family’s vineyard just across the border in Indiana. At nineteen years old, he bought a one-way ticket to California and began his career in wine as a “cellar rat,” eventually working his way up to winemaker for several of Paso Robles’ most notable wineries. In 1993, Toby purchased forty-one acres at the end of Union Road in Paso Robles, where he built Tobin James Cellars. A year later, the winery and tasting room opened. Toby’s greatest passion is his family—his wife, Ermie, their four children, and his grandchild.
Lance
Lance Silver
Co-owner/Co-winemaker
Lance’s love for wine began early. At age seventeen, he started collecting wine with money made from mowing lawns. At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas he took courses in the sensory evaluation of wine, wine tasting, and wine education. In 1996, Lance and his wife, Claire, became co-owners and equal partners of Tobin James Cellars, allowing him to finally follow his long-held passion. Lance’s proudest accomplishment at Tobin James Cellars is that the winery has grown twenty times over in the past thirty-five years, and each wine is better than ever.
Claire
Claire Silver
Co-owner/Co-winemaker
Claire grew up in a family that enjoyed wine with dinner. She met Lance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where they were both in the hotel administration program. A wine course and meeting Lance opened the door to a whole new level of wine appreciation for Claire. For seven years, she served as acting president of the Wineries of Highway 46 East. She designs the beautiful logo jewelry and gifts for sale in the tasting room (and all your wine club gifts!). Claire’s main interests and true passions are her family and Tobin James Cellars. She is especially proud of Lance, her husband of over forty years, and their two daughters.
Ermie, Toby, Lance, and Claire in 1999.
Toby, Ermie, Claire, and Lance in 2014, San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Persons of the Year Award
Finally, Tobin James Cellars wouldn’t exist today without Ermie, Monica, and Tim.
Ermie Morones is proudly born and raised in Paso Robles, California. Her family has been a part of Paso Robles’ agricultural heritage for generations. Ermie remembers driving tractors through the vineyard as soon as her feet could reach the pedal. She has been Toby’s number one fan since 1994. After raising four children with Toby, Ermie returned to the winery to help with day-to-day operations. You’ll find her cheery voice answering the phones, helping you select the best wine for all occasions.
Monica Martin is a native Paso Roblan, Monica started with Toby when the current facility opened in 1993, and has become the heart and soul of Tobin James Cellars as the General Manager. Handling everything from Account management to Zinfandel, Monica is indispensable to the day to day management of the winery.
Tim Martin is the property manager at Tobin James Cellars, making sure our winery runs smoothly. Tim and his team take care of all the day-to-day operations and long-term projects. He makes sure your wine club boxes are properly packed, orchestrates harvest, helps with the bottling line, organizes the warehouse, set-ups the parties, and so much more. He’s our resident MacGyver.
