About Tamber Bey
Tamber Bey is a family-owned and operated winery producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay wines. The winery harvests fruit from their two family-owned vineyards at 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 of the Cabernet grapes that make the flagship 'Estate' Cabernet. The Two Rivers Vineyard is located just east of Yountville in the middle of the valley and is also adjacent to the Napa River — as designated by the name. It is planted to Merlot, Cabernet and Chardonnay. All wines made under the Tamber Bey label are 100% produced from these two vineyards.
Background and History
In 1999, Barry Waitte bought a 60-acre vineyard near Yountville and named it Two Rivers Vineyard in recognition of the two distinct personalities of the adjacent Napa River, one a usual calm river and the other of a ragging winter ravage flow. While the property had great potential and is located in the northern part of the Yountville appellation, it was in dire need of tender loving care. After interviewing some of California's top viticulture companies, Barry hired viticulturist Josh Clark to revive and farm the property with the goal of making it a premier Napa Valley vineyard featuring varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other Bordeaux-style fruit. The next year, Barry purchased another property a mere half mile away from the Two Rivers Vineyard that had bare land. This vineyard is located at the southern end of the prestigious Oakville appellation became the winery namesake Tamber Bey estate. On this property was planted very select clones of Cabernet Sauvignon on this mid-valley cool-climate site. In early 2001, Barry hired winemaker Thomas Brown. Thomas had a vast resume including experience with Turley Wine Cellars and was working other projects of Outpost, Schrader and Chiarello wines.
In the fall of 2003, the Tamber Bey label premiered with a limited production of 2001 Chardonnay, Merlot, and a Bordeaux blend Cabernet Sauvignon from their Two Rivers Vineyard. Within weeks, the majority of the production was delivered primarily to a select list of friends and family, and the entire inventory was gone by the end of the year. Since then the wine line up has grown to four wines with a combined production of over 2,500 cases, with some of the wines selling out within weeks of their release. This continued enthusiastic reception and the yearly increase in production resulted in an expansion of our distribution to include exclusive retail wine shops and restaurants in California, as well as distribution in the states of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Minnesota, New York, Oregon and Washington DC.
The Tamber Bey Name
The moniker Tamber Bey combines the names of the first Arabian performance horses that the Waitte’s owned and raced — Tamborina and Bayamo, affectionately known as Tamber and Bay. Both Tamborina and Bayamo have been retired and are living a life of relaxed bliss in the wide open pastures of Northern California.