As a family-owned winery for five generations, the Hess Collection Winery has been producing Napa Valley fine wines from grapes grown on the volcanic slopes of Mount Veeder since 1978. Visitors to the Hess Collection winery can not only enjoy the wines the family produces, but also the extensive private art collection the family has curated. The result is a unique wine and art experience in the heart of Napa Valley.
Visiting the Hess Collection Winery
The Hess Collection Winery is located at 4411 Redwood Road in Napa. It is open to the public for tours and tastings daily from 10 AM to 4:30 PM when visitors can come enjoy wine tasting and the art collection. The winery offers an array of art, wine, and culinary experiences to its visitors. Call 707-255-1144 for advance reservations. All of the experiences at Hess Collection Winery are adult only.
Hess Winery ATV Excursions
Take a guided ATV tour of the winery and estate followed by a wine and food pairing. Reservations are required for this experience, which costs $185 per person. Tours leave daily at 11 AM.
Blending Experience
Aspiring winemakers can enjoy a custom wine blending experience. The experience costs $165 per person and requires advanced reservations. This experience is available at 10:45 am daily.
Wine Tour and Luncheon or Dinner
Enjoy a three-course luncheon with wine pairings or a wine and hors d'oeuveres reception and three course meal with wine pairings. Both are followed by a docent-led winery tour. Advance reservations are required. The private dinner requires a minimum of 10 participants. Cost for lunch is $165 plus tax and 20% service fee, and cost for dinner is $215 per person plus tax and 20% service fee.
Tour of the Palate
This experience combines art, food, and wine in a docent led tour through the art museum followed by a three-wine tasting paired with complementary foods. Reservations are required, and it costs $95 per person plus tax and 20% service fee.
Wine and Chocolate Experience
Chocolate lovers rejoice - there's something at Hess for you, too! The wine and chocolate experience includes a guided tour and a paired tasting of chocolate truffles and current release wines. The cost is $75 per person with advance reservations required.
Wine and Cheese Pairing
If you prefer your wine with cheese, Hess Collection has you covered. Enjoy a tour and a tasting of four wines paired with four cheeses for $75 per person. Reservations are required.
Museum Walk
If you're there strictly for the art, you can enjoy the museum walk experience with an optional tasting of the current release wines. Cost is $45 per person with advanced reservations required.
Tour and Tasting
Make a reservation to join a tour of the winery and a tasting of wines not available at the classic tasting. Cost is $75 per person.
Walk-in Tasting
This four wine tasting is available to walk-ins or with reservations. You'll enjoy current releases for a $25 tasting fee. You can also view the art museum for no charge.
Hess Collection Winery Wines
The Hess Winery has four separate wine collections featuring diverse Napa Valley wines.
Mount Veeder
The two wines in the Mount Veeder collection are made from grapes grown on in the Mount Veeder AVA (American viticultural area). Both wines are red wines - a Cabernet Sauvignon with structured red raspberry notes that costs around $80 per bottle, and a red blend called 19 Block Mountain Cuvée, which is a blend of Malbec, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon that costs around $60 per bottle.
Napa Valley
The Napa Valley wines come from vineyards in the Napa Valley AVA. They include two Cabernet Sauvignon wines and a Chardonnay, as well as a red blend and a white blend. The Lion Tamer red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Malbec. The Lion Tamer white blend contains a blend of Pinot Gris, Albariño, and Viognier.
Icon
Icon wines from the Hess Collection come in a red and a white. The red, a Cabernet Sauvignon, is called The Lion, and the white, a Chardonnay, is called The Lionesse.
Small Block
Small Block wines are available exclusively at the winery and are produced from specific blocks within the Mount Veeder AVA. This collection includes a number of different wines including:
- Chardonnay
- Viognier
- Albariño
- Grüner Veltliner
- Pinot Gris
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Orange Muscat
- Rosé of Petite Sirah
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pinot Noir
- Malbec
- Syrah
- Petite Sirah
- Collectors Cuvée (Cabernet, Malbec, and Syrah)
- Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine
Hess Select
Hess Select wines come from various locations in California. These are Hess's most affordable and accessible wines and include:
- Monterey Chardonnay
- California Pinot Gris
- North Coast Sauvignon Blanc
- North Coast Cabernet
- Central Coast Pinot Noir
- Treo red blend (Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Malbec)
Shirtail Ranches
These screw cap wines are only available in restaurants and include food-friendly wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and rosé.
Where to Buy Hess Wines
You can buy Hess Collection wines in the winery's online retail shop, at the winery, or in local wine shops.
Hess Collection's History
While the winery has been in the Hess family hands for five generations, it's not been without difficulty. The winery has seen earthquakes, fires, and landslides that have made it a difficult go at times. In fact, the winery sustained damage in the October 2017 California wildfires and a 2014 earthquake. However, in 2018 it opened the new Lion's Head Cellar to replace damaged structures.
A Wine and Art Experience
Visitors to the Hess Collection Winery can enjoy a true wine country experience. Whether you want to taste wine, learn about it, eat delicious food, or enjoy beautiful art, there's something for every adult at the Hess Collection Winery.
