Napa Valley

Nothing calls for a glass of fine wine like good food and thought-provoking art, and the latter is on display at the Hess Collection. At the end of the shady tree-lined Redwood Road lies a 19th-century stone-built winery nestled among the Veeder Hills. Owner Donald Hess began buying art in the 1960s and about a quarter of his collection resides at the winery - when not on loan to museums around the world. Currently on display are sculptures and painting by the likes of Francis Bacon, Robert Motherwell and Leopoldo Maler. Hess' philosophy is to focus on 20 living artists and support them until he feels they are well established or they die. He will then switch his allegiance to another artist who has caught his attention. See www.hesscollection.com.

Among the many photos on the Schramsberg winery walls of US presidents saluting honoured guests at official receptions is one of Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai. The leaders are each raising a glass of Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 1969 in the 'toast to peace'. While the meeting was significant with respect to global relations, on an oenological level it was the first time an American wine had been served at a state event at home or abroad. This small sparkling-wine maker (www.schramsberg.com) was founded in 1862 by German-born Jacob Schram. The cellars (below left), carved out of rock by cheap Chinese labour at the time, are lined with bottles undergoing secondary fermentation.