The Wager

The Wager is a 60-acre vineyard located in the northern Napa Valley, near Mt. St. Helena, owned by Steve and Tamara Kalin. The vineyard, named Tamara's Vineyard, was established following a wager between the couple regarding a stop sign incident during Tamara's marathon training. The Kalins purchased the property without visiting it, encouraged by winemaker Milos, and have since planted approximately 25 acres of grapevines, including ancient Zinfandel and Petite Sirah blocks, along with newer Cabernet Sauvignon plantings.

The winery's first vintage, Bookmark, was produced in 2007, and they later launched a second label, Underdog, which offers value wines sourced from premium wineries. The Wager's wines, including the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, are characterized by balance and expressive fruit flavors. The estate typically produces between 300 and 500 cases of wine annually, which are sold directly through their website and have limited distribution in Florida and New York. The winery does not currently offer visitor experiences.