Vineyard to Know and Visit: The Hess Collection

The Hess Collection Winery & Art Museum is located on the historic Mont La Salle vineyard in Napa Valley, California. The winery was founded in 1978 by Donald Hess, a Swiss entrepreneur, and art collector. The winery and museum complex sit on a hilltop overlooking the vineyards, providing stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Donald Hess was born in Switzerland in 1936 and grew up in a family that owned a brewery. In the 1960s, he began his business career in the oil industry, eventually becoming the chairman and CEO of Amerada Hess Corporation, one of the world's largest oil companies. Hess purchased the Mont La Salle vineyard in 1978 and began producing wine under The Hess Collection label.

The vineyard is known for its unique microclimate, with warm days and cool nights that allow for the slow and even ripening of the grapes. The vineyard's soils are a mix of volcanic and alluvial deposits, which provide excellent drainage and impart distinctive flavors to the grapes.

The Hess Collection is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Their flagship wine is the Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, which has been consistently highly rated by wine critics. The winery also produces several other red and white wines, including Merlot, Syrah, and Viognier.

Hess has employed several renowned winemakers, including David Guffy and Timothy Milos, who have helped to establish the winery's reputation for producing high-quality wines. Guffy has been with Hess since 2006 and is the current Director of Winemaking.

In addition to its wine production, The Hess Collection is also known for its extensive contemporary art collection. The winery's art museum features rotating exhibitions of works from the Hess family's private collection, as well as contemporary artists from around the world.

To learn more about The Hess Collection Winery & Art Museum, visit their website at https://www.hesscollection.com/. They are also active on social media, with profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Additionally, visitors to the Napa Valley can tour the winery and art museum by making a reservation through the website.