In Blue Eye Missouri, back in the late 1800's, Jesse James imbibed at a grand mahogany bar, and left a memento to prove it. The imposing wooden heirloom is scarred by a bullet hole, purportedly dispensed by one of the six pistols the infamous outlaw carried, most likely his Smith & Wesson Schofield .45. Today, the bar still serves members of the James Gang. But now, the beverage is more likely to be Zinfandel than whiskey, and the patrons are more likely to be oenophiles than bank robbers. Tobin ("Toby") James installed the bar in his eponymous Paso Robles winery, and true to his heritage as a descendant of the legendary criminal, he maintained a western saloon vibe in the tasting room he built on the site of an old stagecoach stop. He called his wine club the "James Gang" in playful homage to his ancestor, and the modern day James Gang attained its own sort of fame. With more than 25,000 members, the James Gang is believed to be the largest wine club in the world. And Tobin James Cellars achieved this feat despite the fact they do no advertising, P.R., or traditional marketing of any kind. What they do is make very good wine, and throw very good winery parties. "We over deliver on the party," Lance Silver, Toby's partner at the winery, has said. The party "...is our advertising." The "party," actually several annual parties available exclusively to wine club members, is an all-you-can-consume festival of live music, food, and of course Tobin James wines. Each of the celebrations typically hosts more than 1,000 guests, including many who travel from distant states and spend the weekend in Paso Robles for the sole purpose of attending a James Gang event.
TOBIN JAMES 2023 WINERY EVENTS
You must be a James Gang Member to purchase tickets. 805-239-2204
June 24, 2023
