A visit to Napa wine country should surely take in the artfully arranged, Modernist landscape at The Hess Collection Winery. A tasting of The Hess Collection Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay will be a high point, to be followed by a stimulating tour of The Hess Art Collection.
Surface Tension by Andy Goldsworthy — Photo: Courtesy The Hess Collection
Among the exciting and challenging works you can expect to see is the outstanding: Surface Tension – a rare work by British artist Andy Goldsworthy, now on permanent display at the Hess Art Museum. Measuring 10 x 16 feet, the sublime installation was assembled by Goldsworthy in 14 hours.
Surface Tension by Andy Goldsworthy — Photo: Courtesy The Hess Collection
Hess Collection Winery Walker Designed Landscape
Der Feldzug by Armando
A beautifully put description of the Hess Collection’s ‘green’ approach is posted at the entryway: “The …Courtyard is designed as an integral part of our mountain landscape and a commitment to care for the land we farm. Our vineyards are rimmed by meadows and redwood forests, and although our garden aesthetic is wild and natural, it is well-tended to maintain the experience of a lushly undulating alpine meadow.
John Greenlee plantings – Hess Collection
Campanula lactiflora
Native and exotic grasses and ornamentals are chosen for variation in height and seasonal interest. Volunteer plants surprise us in Spring, seedheads are allowed to dry and drop their contents in Fall. Thus, the garden is allowed to propagate itself and actively evolve. Because the Eastern-most boundary of the naturally occurring redwoods is here in the Mayacamas Mountains, we incorporated these trees with Western sword ferns to echo the nearby woods.”
Hess Collection – Peter Walker Design
View looking down on the courtyard from the Visitor Center.
The Hess Collection is featured in the Winery Gardens chapter of my book, Gardenwalks in California – An Insiders’ Guide .. published by The Globe Pequot Press. Now out-of-print, it’s currently being updated.
The Hess Collection Pergola & Plantings
Walker’s water rill is beautiful, but Goldsworthy’s Chestnut and Hawthorn piece is just gorgeous. It sounds so fragile though!
So cool. I think I’ve seen ‘Surface Tension’ before (perhaps on Bay Area Tendrils?) but didn’t realize how it was constructed. I’m awestruck.
Dear Alice, How marvellous to be able to enjoy contemporary art with tasting wine. A heavenly combination…would one ever wish to leave. The Goldsworthy work looks to be most interesting.
Loved this Peter Walker garden!
Lost all my RSS feeds in recent terminal hard drive illness.
So have renewed my sub to you today – I fear there is no escape!!
Best
R