SLO County tasting room closes after 16 years. What’s happening to its wines?

A longtime tasting room in Cambria has shut its doors, but its winery’s not going anywhere.

Black Hand Cellars at 766 Main St. in Cambria announced on June 1 on Facebook that its 16-year-old tasting room would be closing. Owner Tom Banish cited many reasons for the closure but said he was focused on moving operations to his property at Torie Ranch Vineyard on the west side of Paso Robles.

“We have weathered through the highway closures, COVID and now the wine landscape for tasting rooms is changing a bit where food and entertainment are necessary to attract people,” Banish told The Tribune.

Black Hand Cellars’ tasting room opened in 2006 as part of the “Wines on Pine” co-op, a group of wineries all on Pine Street in Paso Robles. The tasting room then moved to Cambria in 2009, with the classic hand print logo from his 15-month-old daughter Cassidie’s first harvest in 2002, Banish said.

The winery’s name comes from Banish’s great-grandfather, who made wine in Detroit during the Prohibition era. The Black Hand mafia would provide protection in exchange for his wine, although he didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

“This wasn’t ‘arranged,’” Banish said. “There are lots of stories from the Black Hand and the great-grandparents’ experience with them that made for an interesting story and an opportunity to highlight our family’s history.”

Black Hand Cellars was one of the first wineries to “forge the path” in Cambria, Banish said, alongside Moonstone Cellars and Fermentations.

Now, 16 years later, its tasting room has closed but the wine and spirits will remain in SLO County.

“You will see our wine and hard cider out at select restaurants and drinking establishments,” he said. “We will be doing pop-up pourings as well as events, and we will continue offering our wine club pickup events at our property location.”

At Torie Ranch, apple and lavender picking will be offered along with cider-making classes and Open Farm days in partnership with FARMstead ED. Private tastings made by appointment will also be available in the fall, Banish said.

The most recent events will be promoted on the Black Hand Cellars’ Instagram and Facebook, he said. To get in touch, email Info@blackhandcellars.com or text 805-712-9463.

This story was originally published July 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM.