The Hess Collection Winery sits at elevations between 1,800 and 2,500 feet on Mount Veeder, the rugged western range that separates Napa Valley from the Sonoma Coast. Here, Donald Hess combined two passions: growing intense mountain Cabernet and collecting ambitious contemporary art. The result is one of Napa Valley most distinctive destinations, where visitors move between the tasting room and a museum-caliber gallery without paying a separate admission.

From Swiss Entrepreneur to Napa Mountain Pioneer

Donald Hess, a Swiss entrepreneur whose family built a beverage business spanning mineral water and beer across multiple continents, first visited the old Christian Brothers monastery property on Mount Veeder in 1978. He recognized something that most Napa buyers overlooked at the time: volcanic mountain soils and extreme elevation produce wines with a structural intensity that valley-floor vineyards rarely achieve.

Hess purchased the property and bonded the winery in 1983. He also began acquiring the contemporary art that would eventually fill the restored stone buildings. Artists such as Frank Stella, Georg Baselitz, and Magdalena Abakanowicz are represented in the collection, which has grown to include works by more than thirty international artists.

Today the winery farms estate vineyards directly on Mount Veeder while also sourcing grapes from other respected Napa sites, giving the portfolio a range that moves from approachable everyday drinking to concentrated mountain reserve expressions.

The Hess Art Collection is one of the largest privately assembled contemporary art galleries open to the public in the American West.

Mount Veeder Terroir and Why It Matters

Mount Veeder is one of Napa Valley five mountain AVAs, sitting on the western Mayacamas range above the city of Napa. The soils are ancient volcanic in origin: thin, rocky, and low in nutrients. These stressful conditions force vines to grow slowly and produce small, intensely flavored berries. Natural acidity is higher than on the valley floor, which gives wines from this mountain a freshness and structure that supports long cellaring.

Elevation also moderates temperature. Mornings on Mount Veeder are cool, afternoons warm but rarely extreme, and the diurnal swing between day and night temperatures can reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit during harvest. This slow, even ripening preserves aromatic complexity and natural fruit character that heat spikes during hot valley days can strip away.

For a winery whose flagship is Cabernet Sauvignon, these conditions are close to ideal. The mountain forces concentration; the cool nights preserve freshness; the volcanic soils contribute a minerality that distinguishes Hess wines from their valley-floor counterparts.

The Wine Portfolio: From Lion Tamer to 19 Block Cuvee

The Hess Collection portfolio spans a wide range of price points and styles, making it one of the more accessible luxury Napa producers.

Lion Tamer is the entry-level red blend, sourced from Napa and other California regions. Despite its lower price point, it delivers genuine Napa character with soft tannins and generous dark fruit. It has become one of the best-selling Cabernet-based blends in American retail, a rare achievement for a wine bearing the Hess name.

Allomi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Hess estate in the cooler northern Napa region near Calistoga, producing a more restrained and age-worthy style than the Lion Tamer.

At the top of the range sits the 19 Block Cuvee, a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon assembled from nineteen specific blocks on the Mount Veeder estate. This wine represents the full expression of what Hess can achieve from its high-elevation home ground: concentrated black fruit, firm but polished mountain tannins, and the kind of structural backbone that rewards a decade or more of cellaring.

The tasting experience at the winery pairs these wines with a self-guided tour of the Hess Art Collection, which occupies three floors of the restored historic building. No reservation is required to see the art, making this one of the most visitor-friendly stops on any Napa itinerary.

Food Pairing: What to Pour with Mountain Cabernet

Mount Veeder Cabernet has more tannin structure and higher natural acidity than most Napa valley-floor wines. These characteristics make it a powerful food wine, but the pairing logic is specific.

Tannin bonds with protein and fat. A well-marbled ribeye or a slow-braised short rib provides exactly the protein structure that softens high tannins and allows the wine’s fruit character to emerge. Fatty cuts work better than lean ones; the fat acts as a buffer between the tannin and your palate.

Acidity in the wine also plays a role. Higher acid wines cut through richness and cleanse the palate between bites, which is why aged hard cheeses like aged cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or a sharp pecorino pair so well with mountain Cabernet. The salt in aged cheese also tames perceived tannin.

For a lighter pairing, herb-crusted lamb with a rosemary reduction echoes the herbal and earthy notes that Mount Veeder Cabernet often shows alongside its dark fruit core. Avoid delicate fish and lightly dressed salads: the wine will overwhelm them rather than complement them.

Planning Your Visit

The Hess Collection Winery is located at 4411 Redwood Road in Napa, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Napa heading into the hills. The road winds upward through oak woodland and chaparral before arriving at the stone winery buildings.

The art gallery is open to visitors without a separate fee, which makes the experience genuinely distinctive: few other Napa wineries offer a full museum experience alongside the tasting. Tasting options range from a casual glass at the bar to seated estate experiences and food pairings. Reservations for seated tastings are recommended, especially on weekends.

The property is open daily. Groups and trade visitors should contact the winery directly for specialized experiences. The combination of serious mountain Cabernet and world-class art makes the Hess Collection an especially good choice for visitors who want more than a standard tasting room stop.

Hess Collection Winery: Frequently Asked Questions