Our last stop on our 3 day trip was one of the best! Steve was our pouring person and was a GREAT host! SO much knowledge of the wines as well as history in the Valley. We stuck with the whites and have 6 bottles on the way. Very much off the wine trail it is sooo worth the trip up the hill! Oh did we mention the Art Collection as a bonus! read more

A bit of a drive away from Highway 29 with winding roads. The winery is very pretty with a museum in the same building. There was interesting art work from Hess's private collection. Try to find a 2 for 1 coupon for the tasting. A tasting is $10. The pinot was horrible and tasted like water with a light red tint. read more

I've been a wine club member for two years now. The Hess Collection wines are excellent (please don't confuse them with Hess that you can purchase at Safeway). The winery is located on Mt. Veeder--a lovely drive up from the valley (about 5 miles). The views are incredible and it's a bit cooler than the valley. In addition to tours and tasting, Donald Hess is an art collector and there is a 3-story museum filled with interesting modern art. This visit we enjoyed a benefit from my membership--a complimentary wine and cheese pairing experience (plus tour). A private room was set for me and my s/o, with an individualized welcome brochure. We tasted 4 different wines with accompanying cheeses: Mt. Veeder Small Block Chardonnay, Small Block Reserve Mardikian Pinot Noir, Small Block Rockpile Zinfandel and The Lion (Estate Cabernet). These were paired with Carmody (Bellwether Farms), Fat Bottom Girl (Bleating Heart), Barely Buzzed (Beehive Cheese) and Pt. Reyes Blue (Farmstead Co) along with dried fruit, nuts, chocolate and panaforte. Our Wine Educator/Host was Cindy, who could not be more charming or knowledgeable. Do make a reservation ahead and enjoy! read more

After our experience at Hendrys I remembered the great time I had at Hess. I wanted to see their museum again. Donald Hess is an avid collector of modern art. Upstairs is an art museum that's open to the public. Their flaming typewriter is hot! Their molten rock formations brought out my inner child. It reminded me of mud pies and burnt cookies. Notice how I relate everything to food, haha. There's also a dark painting of a man. It's slightly morbid, but very cool. You can't miss the group of headless figures. I remembered their delicious tastings and friendly service. I chose their vintage cab.s which are half off on Wednesdays. My favorite was the 2001. I also tasted my friend's glasses. Their chardonnay, charbono, and shiraz were good. We finished with their late harvest chardonnay. It tasted like apricots and lychee. This winery looks like a villa with a picturesque courtyard. There are scupltures and a man made pond with fish. There is also a huge bronze bowl sculpture in front. After our tasting Vanessa and I climbed in to take a picture. Someone came out and asked us to get out of the bowl. It seemed like a fun harmless spur of the moment thing. I can't act on anymore brilliant ideas I have after drinking. I love Hess. Hopefully they won't remember me by the bowl debacle. I'd love to go back. read more

Steve was great leading us through a tasting with knowledge and humor. We saw some grapes being processed, tasted the grapes that exploded with flavor. Met Catherine their customer service manager who had previously sorted out an issue with the highest level of professionalism. Our friends joined the club and we ordered some of the exceptional "single block " wines. Add the walk through the museum for a perfect afternoon. read more

hmm... I have mixed feelings about this winery. The drive there was awesome. Lots of twisties with very few cars on the road. The winery is gorgeous! We took tons of pictures outside before and after the tasting. The art gallery was nice... not my style, but I'm sure it's good art. I was enjoying the architecture more than the statues and paintings that the gallery housed. On to the wines. The place was pretty busy, so we kept getting a different pourer with each tasting. The pourers didn't seem all that into it. They never explained the history or what flavors to expect from the wine unless I specifically asked. I tried four of the reds and nothing really stood out. If you were going to pay for a tasting, just go for the late harvest chardonnay. It's $5 for just the one tasting, but I enjoyed that one the most. And considering it's $50/375mL, you're pretty much paying for an equivalent share of the bottle. read more

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I came here late in the day so was rushed on time but liked it nonetheless. Art collection is 2 floors, lots of modern pieces and a few interactive ones. The Franz Gertsch Johanna II piece is worth the whole visit, it is breathtaking. Looks like a photo but is really a painting over a projected transparency. There is a monastery up the road. Walk up beyond the hess building for 3 minutes to the top of the road and it will be on your left. Walk through the middle to the other side and you'll have a great view of all the vineyards below and the valley And for the wine - i was nearly dying at this point after 6 tastings that day but i very much remember the Hess Su'skol Vineyard Late Harvest Chardonnay. It tastes just like Inniskillin Ice wine from Niagara but half the price. Sweet but crisp. Also tried the petite syrah and 2009 cab - they were good, not great. Good pricing for all that you get, can see art and drink for 10 bucks Definitely pay a visit here. I think i'll come back for a tour sometime read more

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Great winery that is hidden in the Napa valley. We lost cell reception as we entered the area which made it so I couldn't look on yelp for any deals while we were there. Of course there is a buy 1 get 1 tasting -- well played Hess! The earthquake happened only 1 week before our visit so we couldn't see the tasting room :( The good part of that is that we got a private server at our individual table. I wanted ti support Napa so I bought 3 bottles and got the tasting fee waived. I can't wait to go back just to see the room. read more

Hess Persson Estates - Great patio - Museums Near Me - Napa, California

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First time up here this weekend and it was stunning. There is no doubt the wines are in the superior category for the area. Along with the wonderful location and ambience, the service was phenomenal and the art gallery was museum quality. We left with two bottles and I will certainly be heading back here again! read more

Hess Persson Estates - Museums Near Me - Napa, California

We called ahead and asked if they were dog friendly. We got a "yes" over the phone and were excited and drove 55 minutes up the hill out of cell reception to Hess. Once there we weren't greeted, we were told that no dogs were allowed. I mentioned the call and no one would make eye contact with me. Another employee saw how we were being treated and stepped in and offered a solution. She said we could order a bottle of wine and drink it in the garden. Because we couldn't taste it, we had to guess what we wanted and ordered a Malbec (my fav). Could be the unfortunate unwelcomed bark we received upon opening their beautiful doors, but it tasted sour, immature, and uncomfortably heavy like a port. Can't recommend this place, but the woman at the front desk with blonde hair, good for you for stepping in. You are the reason I pretty-woman-petty bought a bottle. Save your time being judged and hit up Godspeed instead. To quote Baby Mama, "I wish I was at an Arby's right now, because there's better food and cooler people there." read more

Hess Persson Estates - Garden area - Museums Near Me - Napa, California

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Amazing grounds and a beautiful tour. The food plate was amazing and loved all the wines we tasted. Definitely will be back. If you get Rene you'll have an even better time. Great guide and a real person not just a show that people put on while working. HESS family give this man a raise please!! read more

The ride it self if very scary, be extra cautious en route - the road is a narrow winding road and is one lane in some spots as parts were washed away during rainy season. The grounds are very beautiful, definitely a two for one with the art gallery. The tasting it self was a bit stingy in comparison to other places we visited. But with our stay at The Westin we received 2 for 1 voucher so that helped. Overall great service, neat art and we left with 3 delicious wines. However based on the drive I wouldn't return. read more

Hess is a Napa winery that offers more than just wine tastings. While it's is not on the main path where the majority of wineries are located, with its serene environment and unique art gallery, it's definitely worth the short detour. Make sure to map yourself before getting close, since you will lose phone signal as you get near. There's not very good phone signal on the property either, but there is Wi-Fi! Parking is plentiful and free. Being far off the main road, it's relatively quiet. The courtyard is a nice place for pictures, with the pond and arch. At the end of the short path, you enter the main building to check in for your tasting. While reservations are recommended, our group of 7 came in the morning, so it was not an issue. If there's a wait, you can enjoy the art gallery which spans 3 floors of the building, which is free. There are several really interesting pieces in the gallery that re definitely worth taking a look at and the space itself creates a great atmosphere. The tasting bar itself is now very large; it can probably fit 4-6 groups depending on group size. You can select from a variety of different wines from the tasting menu; 4 pours for $25. The wines were decent and the prices for bottles were fair. Our host was switching between my group and another, but he was still attentive. Once the other group left though, he did have more time to chat to us about the wines and how they're made, and gave us some extra pours. My group left with 6 bottles, waiving some of our fees. read more

Late arrival for us but it was Not to be missed. The winery is lovely. Staff are knowledgeable & helpful & serve up these glorious glasses of Vino. Check out the art collection upstairs. We had a wonderful day at Hess. read more

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Hess Collection is off the beaten path and you will definitely lose service trying to locate the winery, but it's absolutely gorgeous once you reach it. My review is for our "Hess Experience" tour which included a guided tour of the property, gallery, and private lunch. Please note that it takes about 3 hours to complete. The guided tour was... okay. Honestly, I didn't like that it was just the three of us (my boyfriend, the guide, and myself). It was pretty boring and extremely exhausting to carry the conversation by myself with no escape whatsoever. It would've been a way more pleasant experience if we had two more people with us or if they combined another small group with us. Another thing I didn't really like is that we had to sit at a table with our guide and share our private lunch. Again, it was extremely exhausting trying to not make the whole experience awkward and now I had to continue that when I just wanted to enjoy my lunch and wine. Not to say our guide was horrible or anything! She was extremely nice, but there are just some people you can't connect with and that was my experience here. read more

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Mr Garmin please take me to The Hess Collection Winery on Redwood Road. Are you sure we're going in the right direction? It may be only 3 miles outside of Napa, but, it seems like 100 miles into the middle of no-where in the mountains. Big surprise when you arrive at a beautiful winery. (Note: no ATT mobile service anywhere around this winery. No Yelp check-in, no Yelp coupon. No text, no voice.) The Hess Collection Winery is both an art museum and winery with tasting room. When I arrived on my second visit to this winery, I encountered a tour group just starting. So, the tour was interesting along with the history of the winery. Interesting story is that right next to the Hess Winery is a Christian Brothers church. So, any guesses how this winery survived the early 1900's during prohibition? Yep, it was sold to the Christian Brothers. It is now on 99 year lease to Hess. The tour is well worth the time and ends with a 20 minute video about the winery; educational and interesting. The art museum is free and open for viewing. The art is interesting but, "not my cup of tea". On to the tasting room. There is a reasonable fee for tasting ($10 for their basic wines, $15 for sequential Cab tasting). My big find is their Charbono which has a bold oaken smell and a rather unique red wine taste. Happy to say that a couple of bottles found their way home with me. A visit to The Hess Collection Winery is recommended and well worth the long long long 3 mile drive into the mountains. read more

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Definitely check them out, especially first-timers! Sam who was attending for us for the tasting was very amiable! As a first timer for wine tastings, I thought my first wine-tasting would be a little intimidating considering that I don't understand the intricacies of vineyard wines and in all honesty love beer. Sam was very understanding and helpful and answered all the questions I have! In fact, my girlfriend and I were so pleased with their service that we ended up getting 3 bottles of wine (which I can say we're very excited to pair up with food). They also have a free art museum; apparently the owner of this vineyard like to collect art pieces. It's a really nice museum. I'm glad Hess was our first experience at Napa Valley! read more

My mom and I popped in here for a tasting and had a wonderful time. They allowed us to share the tasting and we ended up buying a bottle, which we drank in their lovely patio garden. Afterward, we wandered around the upper three levels which are used as an art gallery. Several of the pieces were really interesting, although I think I was most intrigued by the light coming in from this beautiful angular window, which I think was on the 3rd level. The gift shop had a few nice things, including samples of their peanut brittle. The staff were all very pleasant, bathrooms clean, parking a breeze. Mom and I recommend the cab if you stop by, but their lion tamer was also very good. read more

Very beautiful grounds here especially with all of the wonderful art. The wine was very tasty and reasonably priced. Certainly worth a visit if you are in the area. read more

Hess Persson Estates - Museums Near Me - Napa, California

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We were referred to The Hess Collection Winery by our property manager in Browns Valley. Since it was only a 10 min drive from where we were staying, we decided to go and made a reservation online for the same day. The entire process was very easy! We were blown away by how beautiful the winery was. During the tasting, we were given a lot of information about the wine which was great. Everyone was very accommodating, knowledgeable, and polite. I would highly recommend anyone to go visit. The art museum was also a huge plus and was very cool to experience. read more

I hardly write reviews, but this one is so deserving. The winery is on a gorgeous drive towards Mt Veeder and weather is always much nicer than in St Helena. Serene location, guests are welcome by a gold fish pond and an old brick building covered in ivy. Decided on a wine and cheese tour. Our guide, Michael was very knowledgeable about the winery's history and explained its sustainability practices. It was good to know that no herbicides and pesticides are used and they control the acres of land around vineyards to eliminate potential neighboring run-off. He had greeted us with their new delicious sparkling wine. Tour included an area of tanks, and highlighted the extensive earthquake damage in 2014. He explained some of the technology used in wine production. So much art on display. With one large room dedicated as a gallery. The cheese pairing portion was the highlight. Michael selected the perfect cheese from local Bay Area creameries. The Hess Small Block Albariño is now my favorite white (previous was Viognier). Michael paired it with an Inverness from Cowgirl Creamery. Good selection of reds. I especially enjoyed their version of Malbec, which would give most Argentine vineyards a run for their money. Tour ended in the shop (as all tours do), and I had to buy the Albariño for future parties. This was a gem on our wine tour. Everywhere else seemed too commercialized and overrun by people needing to take selfies to post on social media. Hess was a good respite from the queuing and noise of other wineries. I'll need to go back and get the sparkling wine and Malbec. read more

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The Hess is an interesting winery to visit since they have 2 stories of art galleries for you to check out if you showed up earlier than your schedule. However the tasting ambience is not quite relaxing since they pour all flights at once and walk away to serve others and come back and check with you when they're free. Just not as intimate or attentive as you'd expect from other wineries read more

Visited Hess over the weekend and out group had a private tour with Steve. The wines were fantastic and Steve was great. read more

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This place is off the highway, aka the main wine road. The drive up there was scenery! Red woods and farms all the way up to the hills. Their art pieces defiantly make people think. Dark, weird, and creative. I felt I was visiting an art museum. I didn't taste the wine. The wine and art combine is a great idea and it seems like the path some of smaller wineries are heading towards. read more

Hess Persson Estates - The upstairs window. It makes a great pic - Museums Near Me - Napa, California

Very beautiful winery. It is actually an art gallery with lots of neat stuff to look at. ( NOTE: You can not drink/taste your wine while you walk around and look at the art, which I think is bogus!) It is kinda hidden and off the beaten path, its very secluded but very beautiful. Now... for the wine. OMG. I loved their Cab. We bought half a case. It is so smooth, yet dry with no bite. I was not crazy about any of the other wines. I am not a white wine drinker, so maybe that is why I did not care for them too much. Def worth the little drive. $25+ per tasting; very small pours read more

AMBIANCE (4): Hess is a beautiful place! Fell in love at the start with the outside fish pond covered in lily pads. I think my girl friends and I spent a good 15 minutes taking photos before heading in :) What's also a treat is that there is a small art gallery inside in addition to the wine tasting room. Wine + art = classy. SERVICE (5): I wish I remembered the name of the man who served us our wine flights. He was in a hawaiian shirt which he informed us he got in trouble for wearing, but we thought it was fine and brought out his personality--very fun and informative! WINE (5): Loved all the wines we tasted and was very tempted to sign up for the wine club...one day! *One small note is that there is absolutely NO cell phone service there, so if you need to make a call for cab/limo arrangements you can use their phone! read more

The winery in Fall is absolutely stunning, with ivy in gorgeous reds covering the outer wall. It has a beautiful courtyard as well. We were not enthused with their wines but that's just our taste I'm sure. They do have very affordable wines and the chardonnay peanut brittle was tase.ty. And again, we weren't crazy about the art either. It's all subjective, but I still don't get how you can paint different colored lines on a piece of wood and hang it up with a plaque and call it "art". So many abstract pieces here that were not only baffling, but also unsightly. There's one room where the artist has "melted" rocks in a kiln and placed them on the floor. Sorry, but I felt I was walking thru a field of cow patties. There was also sculpture and textile, again not at all in appealing form. The only piece that struck me was the Franz Gertsch very realistic, very stunning Johanna II. I downloaded a pic off the net for you so you can save yourself a trip to see the rest. Altho being physically present in front of that large piece is pretty awesome, almost like she follows you with her eyes. Or maybe it's just because it was the only visually appealing piece in there. Again, art is subjective and I've read alot of fans of Francis Bacon on here, which, while his pieces were provocative and caused one to study them ("things that make you go hmmm"), I wouldn't hang em on my wall. It was an interesting way to start a day of Napa wine tasting tho. I recommend definitely seeing it in the fall (see pic) and if you like abstract art. read more

Hess Persson Estates - Museums Near Me - Napa, California

Delicious wine, friendly service, and interesting art pieces make this a great place to visit on a Napa trip. Even though it is kinda far from the main "strip" of wineries, Hess is worth trying for its reasonably priced tastings (2 for 1 with yelp check-in) and art collection. Secluded twenty minutes away from the main Napa highway, Hess Collection is on a little corner up in a hill. The grounds are beautiful, with a nice courtyard enclosed in brick walls and a koi pond. There are a few tables underneath hanging vines where you can picnic and observe the abstract sculptures. The interior is contemporary but comfortable, a unique mix of feeling like you're in a living room but with varying art pieces dispersed throughout the venue. The first floor has the store and merchandise, bathrooms, and a few art pieces. The second floor has art installations and a small theater. The third floor has art and a room where the tastings take place. My tasting experience was great: I've been twice and had friendly and knowledgeable wine experts each time. Some favorites include the Malbec, the German white wine, and the Cab. The wine here is better quality than most wines I've tasted. I especially recommend this place when weather isn't so great because everything is indoors. And be prepared to navigate ahead of time since cell service usually dies. But they also have wifi when you get to the tasting room/gallery! (Also, you should call and see if they are closed for a special event, once I drove all the way to find on the sign that they were closed for a private event). For a small winery, their wine and service is fantastic. One of the best Napa wineries to experience when you get the chance. read more

I used to T.A. for a professor that sold her art here. Some of her works are still in the gallery amongst many other artists that I enjoy, Anselm Kiefer, Francis Bacon, Alan Rath, in addition to many others. It's a bit of a mountain drive but the complex itself is definitely worth checking out. As far as the wine goes, stick to "Collection" and skip "Select". read more

I came here to view the Hess Art Collection. It's kind of a breath of fresh air-- if you've been tasting for a couple days in a row. The Hess Collection Winery is actually on a permanent rental lease from the Monastery next door. It's gorgeous and grandeur with a very European feel to it. The art gallery is free to view and is a great two and half floors of intriguing pieces of modern art work. My friend mentioned that the wine was so-so here, but the art collection is worth the drive out. I trust his opinion greatly--Skip the wine tasting, but make sure to take a peak at modern art! read more

Went over the Thanksgiving Weekend. The overall experience would have been a four starred review except for one rude pourer. Here's the story. We arrived about half an hour earlier than planned and was told to hang about for a bit because the tasting room was full. That's fine as Hess has this massive art collection and kept us busy for the next half an hour (or possibly more). After we came down, we were placed in a corner of the oval tasting counter and was assisted by a very kind and polite member of the staff (too bad I couldn't remember his name). The wines were decent, but most importantly I've learned a lot about the difficulties facing winemakers trying to make wine under the mountainous condition. As I was about to snap a photo or two of the bottles we were poured from, another pourer swooped in and snatched it out of my sight with a disapproving gesture. As if to say I shouldn't be wasting his time with taking photos of the bottles. He made it as if it was my fault. But maybe it was. I'm sorry that I wasn't one of those guests who just come, drink, and leave. I was probably wrong to try to make an effort to learn about your wine before making my decision whether to buy or become a member. That pourer has just saved my time and lost his winery one potential long time customer really. In all, I think Hess is still a good place to visit, especially if you just want to get pounded. But if you really want to learn about Mount Veeder wines, either stop somewhere else or come in early to avoid the crowd while keeping your fingers crossed the management switches that pourer to some other job in the winery. read more

This is a lovely winery that generously offers a two-for-one wine tasting special, 4 varietals per person for $10. The tasting room is situated in what looks like a modern day castle set about in one of the most picturesque parts of Napa Valley. Beyond the wine they even have a three floor art museum available to freely visit. The art is comprised of works by only living artists, and nothing is allowed to be photographed. Some of the pieces are especially striking or otherwise memorable. The very large portrait on the third floor is stunningly gorgeous and rendered with the greatest of detail. There are interactive pieces, mixed-media pieces, and the like. It all works wonderfully with the wine and the general ambience of the area. Definitely recommend the place for a stop. The wines themselves were generally of pretty good quality. I was very happy with my visit here. read more

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If you checked in on yelp you can get a 2 for 1 tasting deal ($10), however there's no reception for Verizon once you're at the winery (it was super hard to get that deal because we had trouble checking in) so a good tip: CHECK IN before driving through Redwood Rd since you get about 4 hours anyways to use the deal. I would really give this place 3.5 stars because it was unique with a different atmosphere but however their wines were... Eh... ok... They have a beautiful courtyard (if you're into scenery and photo ops haha) The Hess Collection Winery has 3 stories worth of abstract art (i don't know my arts, so for those art fans out there I apologize if what I saw isn't considered abstract) but I can definitely say.. INTERESTING STUFF... very weird, most of the time I was confused haha but I mean it was a great break from wine tasting, something different to do. I think everyone should come here at least once to check the place out and I would recommend this Winery just because its out of the ordinary with their interesting art pieces. read more

Not a big fan of their wine but love that art gallery. Their contemporary art collection is very impressive. I didn't do my homework before my first visit so I was expecting some silly paintings by self proclaimed artists. Instead, I was greeted by an amazing collection of evocative sculptures and striking canvases by famous artists like Francis Bacon and Andy Goldsworthy. Unfortunately no photos are allowed in the museum so you will have to make the trip there and see it yourself. Picturesque garden. Reasonable wine tasting fee ($10/four wines). Winery tours are free but make sure you get there before 3:30pm. They also have a self guided audio tour for the art museum so bring your iPod with you. read more

I thought art at a winery would be easy-to-digest, unchallenging fluff in pastels that hang in motel rooms and doctor's offices. Well, color me wrong. We started with the top floor and *boom* there they are--two Francis Bacon paintings. My love of bacon extends to the art world and those two pieces were enough for Hess to earn my respect. I'm so glad we took the time to come here because the art is, for the most part, interesting, engaging, and definitely not fluff. I also like that they don't have security guards hovering and clucking their disapproval if you get too close to the art. We were able to get really close to see marvel at all the details. It was $10 for 4 tastings. I didn't go for a tasting myself, but I hanged around the tasting area and was impressed when one of the staff members made a Simpsons reference in describing one of the wines. Everyone was very nice and friendly, and they didn't judge us for being young people who probably drink the Two Buck Chuck more than anything. (Some wineries treated us like we got showered with radiation and had the power of invisibility.) On the narrow, winding road up to Hess, there is a weird shrine to America with plaster bunnies and ducks to the right side of the road. I think that's an important modern art piece that deserves slowing down of the vehicle and rubber-necking. read more

Hess Collection is unique. It combines wine with art, and art galleries are few&far between in the wine-dominated Napa Valley. For the 20th anniversary celebration,the winemaker gave a pleasant barrel tasting&discussed everyday life in the vineyards (along with a souvenir glass,a real deal at $5) It's nice to see that the art gallery has some new pieces now--from the natural art of Andy Goldsworthy to Robert Rauschenberg. They've varied their pieces. Hess Collection has an eerie,old manse feel because it is in a place that once belonged to the Christian Brothers nearby. The hosts are very personable and fun. Definitely a recommendation. read more

Although a bit off the beaten path, this place is a must, especially for any art aficionados. Great service, wine, ambiance, and especially fantastic art. This place would get 5 stars for the art collection alone. The winery has several francis bacon, frank stella, robert rauschenberg, and anselm kiefer paintings and could seriously rival the art collection of any contemporary art museum. The service was fantastic as well. Our server was incredibly friendly and gave us great recommendations. The wine was also great. I got a bottle of the 2012 Cabernet, but the Malbec and Gewurtztraminer were also fantastic. Make sure to get directions ahead of time though, since cell service goes out about half a mile away. read more

I wanted to love this place because one of my friends loves their chardonnay and took us there, but..... It's in the middle of nowhere so the drive is a little bit of a turn off before you even get there. The facility is beautiful -- The wine was not. We went to a couple other places first that were each much better. The staff was clearly bothered by us coming in the afternoon and when we used 2 for 1 tasting coupons that someone received FROM THEM the lady rolled her eyes. I'm not a coupon guy, but saving $20 by handing a piece of their own paper over to them seemed appropriate. I rated this two stars because I hadn't had their reserve wines and just assumed the regular tasting was their low end and the private reserves would be great....wrong. Nearly our entire group dumped each wine which rarely occurs. The art is decent, but when you are rating a winery you can't give it above 1 star if the regular and reserve wines are terrible. I'd recommend Grgich, Whitehall Lane, Rombauer and several others instead if your looking for a good chard. Don't get me started on the reds.... read more

everything was splendid and delightful at hpe, very well-maintained and a well-kept property, turns out, the christian bros. own the land - not hpe, these folks just operate the winery biz on the church's land, i guess it's a win-win-win? the church loves their real estate as god had meant it to be? anyway, to comment on hpe, they've done an outstanding job of operating the winery biz, at least from this novice naive wine drinker's perspective, the grounds and bldgs were immac, the staff is very friendly and welcoming and informational and knowledgeable. our host, cindy enjoyed talking and educating and reciting the history of the facility and the region. the art gallery seemed impressive with modern as in MOdern abstract art and eclectic art - diff strokes/diff folks, i guess, and it helps to have acreage and good lighting to display the pieces. the wine tasting featured 4 bottles that all had different subtleties, nuances and tastes and we ordered a couple of food plates to pair with the bebidas. the food was beautiful to see and the wine was decent maybe a 5 or a 6 outta 10 in my naive book, nothing to fall out of my chair for upon first sip as it were... again, i'm just a wine novice, not a connoisseur by any stretch of the meaning, since i've enjoyed most of my wines from costco. we did buy a bottle of their honey chardonnay which was not part of the paid tasting samples but we were offered a splash afterward downstairs by our hostess with the mostest - ms. cindy, who took a few pix of us and with us... overall a reasonably decent time at hpe, not sure i'd come back too soon since it did set us back over $350+... prob the going rate these days due to inflation which is kinda ridiculous. read more

Came back with 7 of my girlfriends to celebrate my 40th. They gave us a complimentary tour with wine & cheese tasting. The cheeses were awesome. I really enjoyed every single one of them. I don't really like blue cheese very much but the the one that they featured was very yummy. My friends bought several bottle of wines. One of my girlfriends claimed that the Hess white wine makes her horny (God forbid when she's not around me - the last thing I need is a girlfriend humping me lol). Sue, the tour guide, was at her usual happy self. I can't believe she still remembered me from the last time I was here. They should hire more people like her! Anyway, after the beautiful wine and cheese spread, I totally did not expect it but they also presented me with a birthday present - chocolate truffles! Thank you Hess Winery for your graciousness. You made my 40th a very momentous occasion for me and a memorable one for my friends. Next time, I will come back with my husband. For sure! read more