The Hess Collection was founded by Swiss entrepreneur Donald Hess in 1976. Hess first purchased vineyards on Mount Veeder in 1978, and made wine under The Hess Collection label in 1983. In 1986, he began renovation of the historic Mount Veeder winery, originally constructed in 1903 by Colonel Theodore Gier. The courtyard garden at the entrance to the visitor center, designed by landscape architect Peter Walker, is bordered by a reflecting pool that carries on the tradition of Gier's lily pads, with stone sourced from the original quarry. The winery opened to the public in 1989.

Today, The Hess Collection is best known for its flagship Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, acclaimed for its complexity, structure and elegance. The Hess Collection has 310 acres of vineyards on Mount Veeder, along with select single vineyard sites—Su'skol Vineyard (175 acres) and Allomi Vineyard (210 acres) in Napa Valley, and Shirtail Creek Vineyard (352 acres) in Monterey. A leader in sustainable and organic practices, The Hess Collection adheres to founder Donald Hess’ philosophy; "Nurture the land; return what you take."

The historic winery has earned international recognition for its wine, culinary and visitor programs and provides free public access to Donald Hess’ extensive private Contemporary Art Museum.