About Tamber Bey    
Tamber Bey is a privately-owned and operated winery that produces 100% estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay wines. The winery harvests fruit from its two vineyards located in the heart of the Napa Valley. Adjacent to the Napa River at the southern end of the famed Oakville appellation, the Tamber Bey Estate Vineyard is located on the southern edge of the premier Napa Valley Cabernet ripening zone and is planted entirely with the Cabernet grapes that make Tamber Bey’s flagship 'Estate' Cabernet.

The Deux Chevaux Vineyard is located just east of the town of Yountville, in the Yountville  appellation. This vineyard sits in the middle of the valley and is also adjacent to the Napa River. It is planted with Merlot, Cabernet and Chardonnay grapes. All wines made under the Tamber Bey label are 100% produced from these two vineyards.
 

Location, location and location


In 1999, Barry Waitte bought a 60-acre vineyard near Yountville and began his career as a wine grape farmer. The property had great potential and was located in the northern part of the Yountville appellation. Barry engaged viticulturist Josh Clark to farm the property with the goal was to make it a premier Napa Valley vineyard, featuring varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other Bordeaux grapes. Later that year, Barry purchased another property a mere one-half mile away. This vineyard property, located at the southern end of the prestigious Oakville appellation, became the winery’s namesake Tamber Bey Estate. On this mid-valley, 'cool-climate' property Barry planted very select clones of Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2001, Barry teamed up with Winemaker Thomas Brown. Thomas possessed an impressive résumé that included experience with Turley Wine Cellars and other projects for Outpost, Schrader and Chiarello wines.  In 2009, winemaker Mike Smith joined the team and his applying his skills with all the wines. 

In the fall of 2003, the Tamber Bey label premiered with a limited production of 2001 Vintage Chardonnay, Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon blend from the Deux Chevaux Vineyard. Within weeks, the majority of the production was delivered, primarily to a select list of friends and family, and the entire inventory was sold by the end of the year. Since then, the wine lineup has grown to four wines with a combined production of more than 3,500 cases, with some of the wines still selling out within weeks of release. This continued, enthusiastic reception and the yearly increase in production resulted in an expansion of distribution to include exclusive retail wine shops and restaurants throughout California, as well as distribution in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, New York, Texas, Canada and Denmark.
 

what's in a name?

The moniker Tamber Bey combines the names of the first Arabian horses that Tamber Bey owner Barry Waitte owned and raced — Tamborina and Bayamo (Bayamo is pictured below left), affectionately known as Tamber and Bey. In 2008, in keeping with the origins of the Tamber Bey name, Barry renamed the Two Rivers Vineyard. It is now known as the Deux Chevaux Vineyard - Deux Chevaux is French for “two horses.”

The Tamber Bey estate is now home to several world-class Arabian endurance horses. These horses regularly compete over distances of 50 and 100 miles and are ridden by Barry and Tamber Bey General Manager Jennifer Nice, who is also the horses’ trainer.

See Horsin' Around on the News page for more information about the Tamber Bey horses.