Pali Wine Co., a Santa Barbara County winery and tasting room, is getting ready to relocate its San Diego location to Hillcrest at 1440 University Avenue.
The company’s new location will move into the former home of Cellar Hand following the restaurant’s permanent closure on July 19, 2026, according to San Diego Magazine. Pali Wine Co. will also close its Little Italy tasting room at 2130 India Street on the same day, with a soft opening planned for August 12 and a grand opening scheduled for August 22. Customers can expect the same wine selection, wine club benefits, private tastings, and a food menu similar to those offered in Little Italy.
The move marks the next chapter for a property that What Now San Diego first reported on in 2023, when Pali Wine Co. announced plans to open Cellar Hand in the former Oscar Wilde’s Irish Pub space. The full-service restaurant opened a little more than two years ago with a focus on locally sourced produce and wine-driven dining. During its run, Cellar Hand was led by executive chefs Logan Kendall, Ashley McBrady, and most recently Sable Tanya Wentwoord.
Cellar Hand earned national recognition when Wine Enthusiast named it one of the Top 50 wine-focused restaurants in the United States in 2025, according to San Diego Magazine. Wentwoord is expected to continue leading the food program at the new Pali Wine Co. tasting room, allowing the company to carry over part of the restaurant’s culinary identity as it transitions to its new concept.
Managing partner Nick Perr told San Diego Magazine that the family’s decision to relocate was driven by lease negotiations after the landlord at the Little Italy location sought to double the rent nearly. The Perr family has produced wine in Santa Barbara County for more than 20 years and has maintained a presence in the San Diego market for about a decade.
This will be an excellent landing space for Pali Wine Co. as the Hillcrest location places the winery near the neighborhood’s weekly farmers market, creating opportunities for new programming and community events. The tasting room will operate Wednesday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., with happy hour offered Wednesday through Sunday.
