Hess Persson Estates

Napa Valley Innovator Donald Hess, Founder of Hess Collection Winery, Dies at 86 | Eater SF

"Made famous for combining art and wine, the business began 45 years ago as Hess Collection Winery and was built by Swiss-born Donald Hess, who started his career selling Switzerland’s first non-alcoholic beer before moving into mineral water and later Napa Valley winemaking. By the time of his death at 86 in Bern, Switzerland, the winery had grown to more than 900 acres of vines across four vineyards; longtime winemaker Dave Guffy (since 1999) remembers Hess for his quirky “Donaldisms,” including the mantra “Live each day with the courage of a lion.”" - Paolo Bicchieri