Glen Carlou Vineyards Mr Donald Hess, founder of the Swiss-based Hess Group that also owns Glen Carlou, has one of the largest privately owned contemporary art collections in the world. To reaffirm his commitment to the South African winelands, works from the Hess Collection will be displayed in Glen Carlou’s new wine tasting and art facility from end-August.

The first part of the collection to be exhibited will contain some 35 works by acclaimed artists Deryck Healey and Andy Goldsworthy. The art collection, which was recently flown to South Africa from the Hess Collection headquarters in Berne, Switzerland, forms part of a new 600m² facility on Glen Carlou. Besides the art collection, the new facility will serve as a state-of-the-art wine-tasting venue.

According to Mr Hess, his interest in contemporary art is inseparable from his love of wine. Mr Hess’s business interests were built-up in Switzerland through mineral water.

“With its magnificent scenery, wonderful soil and climate and world-class wines, taking my interest in wine to South Africa by obtaining the Glen Carlou winery has always been an ambition, one I was fortunate enough to fulfil in 2003,” he says.

“It is thus a pleasure to see the current offerings at the winery extended to a venue displaying some of the art works I love. The collection will change regularly and I hope that South African and international visitors to Glen Carlou will take as much pleasure in the art works on display as they do in the wines.”

David Finlayson, cellarmaster and manager of Glen Carlou, says the art collection underscores the Hess Group’s commitment to South Africa as one of the world’s foremost wine-producing regions. “Art and wine are described as going-hand in hand. The Hess Group puts its money where its mouth is by bringing the two elements together in magnificent venues, just as it has done at the Hess Collection Winery in Napa, California – one of the world’s great wine destinations – and now at Glen Carlou.”

Mr Hess does not believe in charging people money to view his works, so entrance to the collection is free of charge. The collection can be viewed from 25 August on weekdays, as well as Saturday mornings.

Glen Carlou Vineyards

Tel:+27 21 875-5528

Fax: +27 21 875-5314

E-mail:welcome@glencarlou.co.za
www.glencarlou.co.za