Photo Courtesy of Tamber Bey | Sarah Risk
Tamber Bey Vineyards in Calistoga is one of Napa Valley‘s most unusual wineries in that it is located in the middle of a working horse ranch. In fact, the 15,000-square-foot winery was once a covered riding arena.
Tamber Bey’s primary purpose is winemaking, but it is also a working horse ranch home to over 20 horses. What else would you expect from a vintner, Barry Waitte, who is so passionate about horses that he named his winery after his first two Arabian horses, Tamborina and Bayamo?
A visit to this magnificent property is truly like nothing else you’ll find in Napa. Here are seven unique ways to experience it all, from eating and drinking to playing and exploring. (Just be sure to plan ahead as tours and tastings are by appointment only.)
Not many Napa Valley wineries encourage you to horse around, but that’s exactly what happens at Tamber Bey, which is located at Sundance Ranch, a world-class equestrian facility where high-performance Arabian horses are trained, and abused and neglected horses are cared for and given sanctuary. There are 20 horses on the property at all times, and there are always a few hanging out who are happy to say hi and pose for a photo. The Private Retrospective Tasting includes a tour with your tasting is the best way to meet some of the resident horses, as well as see the ranch and the crush and barrel facility.
There are plenty of wineries in Calistoga with bocce courts, but it makes sense for a working horse ranch to have a horseshoe pit. It’s not the, ahem, mane attraction, but it is regulation-standard and the perfect place to enjoy a little friendly (we hope!) competition while wine tasting.
Do you have a friendly, well-behaved dog who will happily stay on a six-foot leash? If so, you can bring him along on your Napa Valley wine tasting adventure. The folks at Tamber Bey will even give him treats and make sure he has plenty of water, because humans aren’t the only ones who should make sure to hydrate when visiting a winery.
In theory, wine tasting and picnics go hand-in-hand, but in actuality, there are a lot of tasting rooms that don’t offer food. Luckily, Tamber Bey makes it easy to fuel up in between sips. Regardless of which tasting experience you go for, you can pre-order a boxed picnic lunch from Sam’s General Store in Calistoga, which includes a gourmet sandwich or salad, chips, and a cookie, plus a glass of wine. You’ll enjoy your lunch on the picnic tables in the courtyard, which is surrounded by a 16-stall barn, with views of Mount St. Helena and the Palisades.
Every wine on Tamber Bey’s tasting menus has received a score of 90 points or higher. The grapes for these wines come from one of two estate-owned vineyards in Napa Valley plus vineyards in Sonoma and Lake Counties. You’ll get a sampling of these top-rated wines during the Courtyard Tasting, the Savory Pairing Experience, and the Private Retrospective Tasting, so you can’t go wrong.
Forget wine and cheese, at Tamber Bey it’s all about wine and cookies. Seriously! The winery partnered with a local baker to create a collection of savory cookies that pair perfectly with its wines. With names like Wasabi Ginger, Black Bacon, Cardamom Crunch, and Lemon Loop, you know you’re in for a tasting treat full of unexpected flavors. Plus, there’s no other pairing like it in Napa Valley. Go big with the full Savory Pairing and Winemaking Tour Experience, or ask to add a savory cookie pairing to the Courtyard or Retrospective Tastings.
The atmosphere at Tamber Bey is so relaxing that there’s a good chance you will want to linger a little longer, and everyone knows that lingering is made so much better when accompanied by wine, which Tamber Bey offers by the glass as an add-on after a tasting. But at that point, you might as well have pre-arranged for the picnic lunch since it includes a glass of wine, as already mentioned. Nothing compares to sipping and eating al fresco in the sunshine with views of horses and mountains in the distance, so why rush off?
Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Tours and tastings by appointment only.
