Known for its wine and food culture, Napa Valley’s vibrant arts scene is often overshadowed by the region’s raison d’être.
Develop your taste from palate to palette at these wineries and tasting rooms, which feature museum-quality galleries and outdoor sculptural installations by artists such as Keith Haring, Ai Weiwei, Ansel Adams, Andy Goldsworthy, Yayoi Kusama, and more.
Donan Manor
Ugo Rodinone, Nun + monk (orange-yellow monk, black-red nun, white-blue monk). Painted Bronze, Various Sizes, 2020 © Donum series and artist.
(Photo by Robert Berg)
The 200-acre Donum Estate is known for its Chardonnay and Burgundy-style Pinot Noirs from winemaker Dan Fishman. But it’s also a must-see for its high-end sculpture park, an open-air gallery that showcases more than 40 installations by major international artists.
Breathe in the aroma of grapes as you walk around artificial rockstainless steel works by Chinese artist Zhang Wang; take an astrological journey Animal Circle / Zodiac Avatars Designed by Ai Weiwei, in a Zen garden-like space; selfie with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama pumpkin; play with Keith Haring’s royals king and queen Sculpture, made only three years before his death.More collections are housed in Donum Home, including Crouching Spider Paris-born artist Louise Bourgeois whose work appears at SFMOMA.
Even if you’ve visited before, there’s always something new to see.Recent acquisitions include rehearsala huge wall sculpture by El Anatsui of Nigeria; nun + monk Ugo Rodinone; Doug Aitken Sonic Hill; and the iconic character of robert indiana Love logo.
this spring, Donham A new architectural gem will be unveiled: the hilltop tasting pavilion created by artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann’s Studio Other Spaces. —Anna Volpicelli
// Open for reservations only by calling 707.732.2200; 24500 Lamar Road. (Sonoma), thedonumestate.com.
Image Estate Winery
(Courtesy of Imagery Estate Winery)
Imagery Estate – founded by Joe Benzig and now led by his daughter, resident winemaker Jamie Benzig – incorporates art into every aspect of its winemaking experience. Imagery also works directly with artists – so far they have worked with 400 creatives and commissioned unique designs for their wine bottle labels. Of the more than 600 artworks created to date, approximately 60 are displayed for viewing in the winery’s on-site art gallery. These artists hail from all over the world, including Japan’s Shoichi Ida, Brazil’s Goncalo Ivo and the late American artist Sol LeWitt. —Sydney Fogel
// Walk-in admission is welcome Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm; 14335 Hwy 12 (Glen Allen), imagerywinery.com
Hess Collection
Andy Goldsworthy rock pool.
(Courtesy of the Hess Collection)
The Hess Collection’s modern art gallery, located above the tasting room, showcases artists from owner Donald Hess’ personal collection, which he has curated for over 40 years.The gallery currently features several works by environmental sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, known to San Francisco hikers and art lovers for his Presidio installations minaret and wooden wire. Here, Goldsworthy’s rock pool Consists of chunks of molten stone he fired in a kiln. The new addition to the Hess family is super wallflower, The late Alan Rath explored the intersection of the natural world and technology. —Jess Rand
// Open by appointment on weekdays; 4411 Redwood Road. (Napa), hesscollection.com
Cliff Leder Vineyards
(Bob McLenahan)
Music, art and wine collide at Howard Buchan-designed Cliff Lede Vineyard, where even vineyard neighborhoods are named after rock and roll, such as my generation and dark side of the moonThe winery’s trendy backstage lounge is a private tasting room and art gallery celebrating rock and roll icons, as well as artwork purchased by the likes of John Lennon, Grace Slick and Jerry Garcia. As a bonus, this experience gives you a backstage pass to Cliff Lede’s top limited-production juice. Also look out for the permanent collection of artists on the winery grounds, including Kim Dine and Boaz Vaddia. More interested in poetry? Check into the Poetry Inn designed by Erin Martin of Cliff Lede. —Jess Rand
// Daily tastings by appointment; 1473 Yountville Cross Road (Yountville), Cliff Vineyards.com
keen wine
(Courtesy of Keen)
This tasting room in downtown Napa has its own contemporary art gallery. Acumen produces boutique wines from its organically grown Atlas Peak vineyards, which can be tasted in this chic tasting salon, which includes some repurposed artwork such as chandeliers crafted from steel cans and bars made from fallen vineyard oaks.In the back, the rotating gallery currently has insight, an exhibition of 3D metal sculptures by artist Marc Foster, designed to be viewed from every angle. Take a piece home as a souvenir of your visit. —Jess Rand
// Open Monday-Thursday 3pm-6pm, Friday-Sunday noon-6pm, priority booking;1315 First Street (Napa), acumenwine.com
Brasswood Napa Valley
(provided by Brass Wood)
This wine country campus has it all: wineries, restaurants, bakeries, event spaces, and even an art gallery with rotating exhibitions—previous shows include work by Salvador Dali and famous animal sculptures by French artist Cévé.This spring, look Sites and Insights 2022 (April 4-May 1), featuring recent photography by California native Gary Fishman. The gallery is open to all Brasswood visitors, be sure to schedule your tasting experience in advance. —Jess Rand
// 3111 St Helena Hwy, brass wood mesh
Turnbull Wines
The gallery bar features iconic black-and-white photography by Ansel Adams.
(Courtesy of Turnbull Wines)
Napa Valley’s Turnbull is a landmark for architecture, design and art lovers, thanks first to its architect-founder William Turnbull Jr., who is known for his work on Sonoma County’s iconic Ocean Ranch famous. The distillery’s current owner, art collector Patrick O’Dell, is curating the experience these days.
The demo room and gardens have been designed to showcase O’Dell’s incredible collection of photography, including one of the largest collections of Ansel Adams images in the country as well as Ruth Bernhard, Imogen Cunningham, Works by Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Edward Weston, and more. Expect to see 50 to 70 artworks at a given time.Sip a glass of Turnbull’s signature Josephine Sauvignon Blanc while contemplating bruises, currently an exhibition of photographs taken between 1897 and 2011 by 23 different artists. –Anna Volpicelli
// Open By appointment, 10am to 4:30pm daily; 8210 St. Helena Highway (Oakville), turnbullwines.com.
St. Supery Estate Vineyard and Winery
(Courtesy of St. Supery)
This idyllic French country-style estate – owned by Chanel – combines estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon with art. Visitors are free to wander to the contents of the second-floor galleries, which rotate throughout the year.Recent exhibits include paintings by artist Stephen Coyle, but this season St. Supery pays homage to them everyday hero, through 24 large-scale photos taken by different Bay Area photographers, highlighting local volunteers in areas such as animal rescue, youth mentoring, mental health, food safety, and more. In addition, the gallery features solo exhibitions by Keith Blodgett, John Comisky and Sally Seymour. —Jess Rand
// Galleries open daily, tastings by appointment; 8440 St. Helena Hwy (Rutherford), stsupery.com.
Hall Napa Valley
known for being 35 feet tall Bunny Baba Leaping from vineyards on the edge of Highway 29 in St. Helena, Hall’s not-so-subtle Lawrence Argent sculpture is just one of 35 very whimsical contemporary pieces you’ll see as you stroll through the historic winery Experience a glass of wine in hand. Other works include John Baldessari’s life-size white camel sculpture and Alyson Shotz’s viewfinder, designed with around 30 different lenses for a kaleidoscopic view of the estate’s vineyards. Want to dig? Book a wine and art discovery experience. —Jess Rand
// Open daily for tours and tastings; 401 St. Helena Hwy (St. Helena), hallwines.com
Lackmead Vineyards
a piece from bookkeeping Kate Solari Baker Collection.
(Courtesy of Landmark Vineyards)
One of Napa Valley’s oldest wineries, the quaint 1895 Larkmead estate in Calistoga displays artwork by owner Kate Solari Baker, who grew up in Napa Valley And started painting in the 80s. She is known for her multimedia art and pastel landscapes, some of which you can see in Larkmead’s refurbished historic barn.she bookkeeping The ledger collage is particularly thematic; Baker created the series based on the winery’s 20th century ledgers kept by her mother and incorporated them into the colorful vineyard landscape. —Jess Rand
// Estate Tasting ($125/guest) by appointment only; 1100 Larkmead Lane (Calistoga), larkmead.com
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