Wealthy vintners in Napa Valley love to wax on about their love of and appreciation for wine and art: as if one serves as a vessel for the other. While it often feels that the connection is fabricated — its main intention to sell either the former or the latter — Donald Hess’s private collection of contemporary art, displayed on the upper floors of his eponymous winery, is the real deal. His lifelong collection comprises over 1,000 works by 65 international artists. “When I have seen an art piece which keeps me awake over several nights, I know that this art piece has touched me deeply and this is one of my most important criteria to buy an art work,” says Hess.
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A Modern Art Museum High Above Napa Valley
Wealthy vintners in Napa Valley love to wax on about their love of and appreciation for wine and art: as if one serves as a vessel for the other. While it often feels that the connection is fabricated — its main intention to sell either the former or the latter — Donald Hess’s private collection of contemporary art, displayed on the upper floors of his eponymous winery, is the real deal. His lifelong collection comprises over 1,000 works by 65 international artists. “When I have seen an art piece which keeps me awake over several nights, I know that this art piece has touched me deeply and this is one of my most important criteria to buy an art work,” says Hess.
The Hess Art Collection and Winery
“The Hess Collection is on Mount Veeder, a bit off-the-beaten path but so worth the trek. Its beautiful architecture showcases works from some of most famous and accomplished artists of our time, including a few of our personal favorites, Anselm Kiefer, Gerhard Richter, and the disturbingly magnificent Francis Bacon. The delicious wines and amazing artworks create the perfect pairing—definitely something to check out.”
