Tamber Bey Vineyards

Tamber Bey Vineyards is the most unusual winery in Calistoga, an estate that combines a working horse ranch with a serious winemaking operation, creating a tasting experience where thoroughbred equestrians and wine enthusiasts share the same property. Founded in 1999 by Barry and Jennifer Waitte, the estate occupies 22 acres of vineyard alongside a state-of-the-art equestrian facility that breeds, trains, and shows Arabian horses. The combination sounds improbable, but it works because both pursuits share the same values: patience, attention to detail, and a deep respect for the land.

The 22-acre vineyard is planted on the warm Calistoga benchland, where volcanic soils and ample sunshine produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc of bold, concentrated character. The vineyard management is meticulous, reflecting the same precision that the Waittes apply to their horse breeding program. The warm Calistoga climate pushes the fruit toward full ripeness, and the winemaking team harvests at the moment of optimal flavor development to produce wines that capture the appellation's generous, sun-driven character.

Winemaker Brooke Shen produces a focused portfolio led by the estate Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that shows the richness and warmth of the Calistoga terroir with enough structure to age gracefully. The Chardonnay is full-bodied and barrel-fermented, and the Sauvignon Blanc provides a crisp, refreshing counterpoint to the bold reds. The wines are well-crafted and fairly priced, reflecting the estate's straightforward approach to winemaking.

The tasting experience at Tamber Bey is unlike anything else in the valley. Visitors taste wine on a terrace overlooking the equestrian arena, where horses may be working during the visit. The combination of wine tasting and horse watching creates a pastoral atmosphere that captures the agricultural spirit of Napa Valley in a way that few modern wineries achieve. Tours of the horse facility can be arranged, and the staff are knowledgeable about both the wine and the horses. At $65, the tasting includes the unique setting and the full portfolio.

Tamber Bey demonstrates that Napa Valley is still, at its core, an agricultural region, and that wine is just one expression of the valley's relationship with the land. The horses, the vineyards, and the warm Calistoga sunshine coexist on the same property because they all thrive under the same conditions: good soil, careful stewardship, and the patience to let nature take its course.