Tamber Bey Vineyards was founded in 1999 by vintner Barry Waitte, who saw an opportunity to turn his love of wine into a full-time venture. His first step was purchasing a 60-acre vineyard in the Yountville Appellation, a region known for producing high-quality wine grapes. He then acquired an 11-acre property in the prestigious Oakville Appellation, planting three acres of Cabernet Sauvignon that would eventually be dubbed the Oakville Estate Vineyard.
With a strong foundation in place, Waitte set out to assemble a team that could bring his vision for Tamber Bey wines to life. He brought on Thomas Brown as the company’s founding winemaker, and in 2003, Tamber Bey celebrated its inaugural release: the 2001 Two Rivers Vineyard Chardonnay, Merlot, and a Cabernet-based red wine. The Two Rivers Vineyard was named in honor of the “two personalities” of the Napa River, which borders the property. Later, the vineyard was renamed the Deux Chevaux Vineyard as a tribute to Waitte’s first two Arabian horses, Tamborina and Bayamo.
In 2012, Waitte expanded Tamber Bey’s operations by purchasing the 22-acre Sundance Ranch in Calistoga. Here, he received approval to convert a 15,000-square-foot covered riding arena into a state-of-the-art winemaking facility. The facility, designed by Thomas Rivers Brown with 36 closed and open-top fermentation tanks, was up and running for the 2013 harvest. Tamber Bey also maintains two 5,000-square-foot barrel rooms at different climate zones to ensure optimal aging for its wines.
Today, Tamber Bey’s portfolio of wines is crafted under the guidance of winemaker Derek Flegal. The wines are made from Waitte’s estate-grown fruit in Napa Valley’s Yountville and Oakville AVAs, as well as grapes carefully sourced from select vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, and Lake counties. In addition to its own wine production, Tamber Bey also provides custom crush services for 20 clients.
But Tamber Bey is more than just a winery – it’s a true wine country experience. The property is home to over 20 horses, including performance Arabians, retirees, rescue horses, and miniatures. Visitors can taste Tamber Bey’s wines in the original barn clubhouse, which was designed by Napa Valley architect Howard Backen. The tasting room is surrounded by a 16-stall barn, where guests can mingle with the horses and enjoy the stunning views of Mount St. Helena and the Palisades. It’s a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of Napa Valley and its world-class wines all in one place.
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twinkle sharma
3 months agoAmazing experience at the Tamber Bey Vineyards! The wines were delicious and the place gives very cozy vibes. Very dog friendly. You can sip wine and say hi to their beautiful horses too.
Lindsey Memering
6 months agoA beautiful moody day at Tamber Bey. The place is very welcoming and open without feeling overly fancy. The grounds are very well kept. The wines were good and I thoroughly enjoyed having more of a customized tasting based on my parties wine preferences. Staff was friendly, hung out and chatted, while not being over bearing to our own time. I wish we would’ve allowed more time to be here, will be back. I would say the only small small thing I would have improved is the pours were just a little small for the price of the tasting. Otherwise 10/10 for everything else.
Brandon Goad
6 months agoTamber Bey has become our favorite winery after traveling to Napa annually for a decade - beautiful tasting courtyard with amazing views, friendly and helpful staff, and incredible wine. We recommend the Rabicano, a beautiful Bordeaux style blend, Oakville Cabernet, and Delacruz Cab from Calistoga. Plenty of white wine options as well.
Aubrie Yocono
2 months agoWe came here for a wine tasting and the guy here was so amazing and sat with us and explained everything about the wines, was so knowledgeable about everything and shared the story of the wines and the horses and the rescue. Their story is lovely and the service was so great. This is a really great place to come and relax and try amazing wines with good company and staff
Ashley Treiber
a year agoOur favorite visit while on a wine tasting vacation! The views-priceless, the employees- so kind, and the wine-DELICIOUS! Highly recommend to anyone wanting a unique wine experience with adorable horses as an added bonus.