Hess Persson Estates
Winery · Napa County ·
Combines wine tasting with a three-floor contemporary art museum
Combines wine tasting with a three-floor contemporary art museum
"For a more active tasting, Hess Persson Estates offers an ATV tour of the vineyard followed by an elegantly prepared meal with wine pairings." - Sean Flynn
"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
"Hess Persson Estates is recognized as one of the premier family-owned and family-led companies in the world of wine, and it stands committed to pushing boundaries and elevating standards to craft wines of distinctive character. Each of the family’s wine brands – The Hess Collection on Mount Veeder and the Lions Head Collection of Napa Valley—produce outstanding, highly acclaimed wines committed to sustainable farming and winemaking practices. Whether it be adventuring through the Hess vineyards on an ATV ride or indulging in an expertly crafted wine and food pairing by Hess’s Executive Chef, these experiences are tailored exclusively for you."
"Founded by a prominent collector who was named among ARTNews’s top 200 collectors in 2013, this estate dedicates three museum levels to a permanent contemporary collection that sits alongside critically acclaimed wines. Notable works include Homage, a 1974 sculpture of an Underwood typewriter in flames by Leopoldo Maler created as a tribute to David Kraiselburd. The property offers curated wine-and-art experiences — including “Tour of the Palate” and “Elevated Tasting and Tour” — and private tours led by the director of art, with each tour including a seated winetasting; visits are by reservation and tastings begin at $85 per person." - Layne Randolph
"Yes, the Hess Collection in Napa makes wine and sells it under the same name. But really, the brand is about something equally wonderful in entirely different ways: modern art. Owner and entrepreneur Donald Hess began collecting art in the 1960s, and the collection on display at the Mount Veeder winery and tasting room represents a small portion of the pieces he’s amassed since then. The three-story gallery is open to the public for free and displays work from artists Franz Gertsch, Francis Bacon, Leopold Maler, and others. Despite the high caliber of work on display, the Hess Collection gallery is relaxed and without pretense. Visitors can take self-guided strolls through the collection or sign up for a formal docent-led tour. This latter option provides guests with insider information about the art, and follows the tour with a private tasting of Hess Collection wine. Housed in a circa-1903 stone winery originally constructed by Colonel Theodore Gier, the building evokes the grandeur of yesteryear—especially in summer, when ivy covers the stone walls of the gallery."
