Dear Friends,
We’re thrilled to present your Fall club selections, including the newest releases of our Proprietary White Wine and the second vintage of our Growers Series Russian River Pinot Noir. We’ve loved hearing how much you’re enjoying these new wines, and we are excited to continue to bring you more unique varietals from special sites and vineyards.
As the holidays draw near, we’re here to help with all your gifting needs! From large corporate gifting needs to curated, elegant custom selections for friends and family, we offer personalization options, handwritten notes, individual gifting suites, and more to make holiday gifting a breeze. Learn more when you scan the QR code below to visit your Fall Membership Hub.
We are extremely proud to officially release our second vintage of Honouren Cabernet Sauvignon showcasing more photos of those living with, or lost to, Alzheimer’s. Through the Honouren Cabernet Sauvignon, we hope to bring our community together and raise vital funds for the fight against this disease. We are proud to donate 50% of each bottle sold to organizations dedicated to ending Alzheimer’s. Learn more about our efforts year-round below.
As we begin to celebrate the holidays with those near and dear to us, we want to thank you for another wonderful year of your continued support. We hope you enjoy these wines and toast to family as you share them with your loved ones.
Ryan MacDonnell Bracher & Miles MacDonnell
Second-Generation Owners
2024 Vintage Update
We had near normal rainfall this year, around 28” which helped set our soils up for success. Bud break kicked off the 2024 growing season in mid-March, exactly when we expect and want it to happen. Picture perfect weather in May resulted in exceptional fruit set, clusters were full and helped us start the summer with a slightly above average crop size.
Early crop adjusting in the vineyard helped put the vines in balance to ensure the highest quality fruit per vine. These adjustments and careful vineyard management allow us to achieve the rich concentration we are looking for in our wines.
While days were a bit hotter than usual over the summer, the cool nights came in allowing vines to replenish and balanced out ripening. Careful canopy management was key to ensuring we got dappled sunlight on the fruit without too much sun exposure on the hot days. Our twin T trellis system in the vineyard coupled with overhear sprinklers helped protect the grapes on the hottest of days, preserving the expected tannins and flavors.
The tannins in the red grapes are soft and refined, the warmer weather helped us achieve maximum ripeness and concentration with deep color and flavors. Our white wines have our signature bright acidity mixed with loads of tropical aromas and flavors. Overall, our red and white grapes all retained incredible acidity.
I feel strongly that the 2024 vintage will go down as a great year for Round Pond. These wines will be approachable early but will have plenty of structure to be aged for 10-20 years.
Jeff Plant
Estate Winemaker
Fall Spice Mix - Estate Baking Spice Blend
This warm and aromatic spice blend is the perfect addition to your holiday baking repertoire. Use it to make a rich and delicious apple butter or whip up your own homemade spiced caramels to impress your guests. Sprinkle it over oatmeal or add to your favorite seasonal breads and muffins. Pair your spiced delights with the newly released Growers Series Russian River Pinot Noir.
Ingredients: Ginger, Cinnamon, Green Cardamom, Mace, Clove, Nutmeg, Salt
Fall Recipes
Click below to access seasonal recipes from our Estate Chef, Fernando Arias.
Braised Greens with Pomegranate
An ideal side dish for any holiday table, the earthy greens are pepped up by the bright sweetness of the pomegranate. Pair it with our Proprietary Nebbiolo where the bright fruit notes and silky tannins will play off of the savory, tart notes of the greens.
Braised Greens with Pomegranate
Ingredients
6 servings
Bundle of swiss chard leaves
Bundle of kale leaves
¼ cup butter
Salt and pepper
¼ cup pomegranate juice
2 Tbsp pomegranate molasses
DIRECTIONS
- Destem and tear equal amounts of Swiss chard and kale into bite sized pieces until it totals about 6 large handfuls of greens
- Melt butter in a large sauté pan and turn off heat
- Add all of the greens to the pan and toss until shiny
- Salt and pepper to taste, then follow with pomegranate juice and pomegranate molasses
- Toss and adjust to preference
- Serve immediately
Apple Butter
A comforting fall classic, this Apple Butter is delicious on toast, mixed into your favorite seasonal breads and muffins, or whipped up with cream cheese for a sweet fruit dip.
Apple Butter
Ingredients
8 small apples, peeled, cored and diced
2 C sugar
2 Tbsp Round Pond Baking Spice Blend
1 lemon, juiced
DIRECTIONS
- Combine all ingredients in a sauce pot and stir to combine. Cook over medium/low heat until apples are very tender, about 30-45 minutes.
- Remove pot from heat. Using an immersion blender, blend cooked apples until very smooth.
- Return pot to stove and continue cooking over very low heat. Stir periodically and cover with lid to prevent from splattering. Cook until very deep in color, another 30-45 minutes. Cool and enjoy!
Spiced Caramels
Perfect for holiday hosting and gifting, these caramels from our Estate Pastry Chef Kathryn Gunderson are sure to delight. The baking spice blend makes them wonderfully seasonal, and a great sweet treat to share!
Spiced Caramels
Ingredients
6 Tbsp honey
1 1/2 C sugar
3 Tbsp butter
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp Round Pond Baking Spice Blend
400 mL heavy cream
DIRECTIONS
- Prepare a 1/4 sheet tray with a thin layer of canola oil and piece of parchment
- Combine honey and sugar in a medium sauce pot. Cook over high heat stirring ONLY until mixture begins to liquify.
- When caramel reaches 302 degrees F, add butter, salt, spice mix, and then cream. Carefully stir to combine, caramel will bubble vigorously!
- Bring mixture back up to 248 degrees F, then pour into prepared tray. Sprinkle with more spice mix and crunchy salt, such as Maldon
- Allow to cool completely, then cut into desired shapes.
For more recipes and serving tips check out our blog, aRound the estate!
Your Fall Club Shipment
Fall Wine Selections
Each shipment is unique, click below to learn more about all of the November wines.
2023 Proprietary White Wine
50% Sémillon, 50% Viognier | Rutherford
A perfect choice for festive dinners and special occasions, this white blend brings charm to any gathering. Its soft, balanced acidity and delicate texture make it a delightful pairing for Thanksgiving classics like roasted turkey or butternut squash.
2023 Growers Series Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
100% Pinot Noir | Russian River Valley
With its bright aromatics and balanced acidity, our newest vintage of Pinot Noir is perfect for fall evenings and intimate dinners. Fresh pomegranate, cherry, and subtle spice make it an excellent match for fall dishes.
2022 Eric Bovet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville
This wine, sourced entirely from our M-Bar Ranch Oakville vineyard, showcases excellent balance of the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal with the unique microclimate, soil, and terroir of M-Bar Ranch. Stylistically, this wine offers elegance and depth, with red fruit balanced by herbal and earth notes and an exceptionally long finish.
2022 Louis Bovet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford
This wine embodied a sharp focus on aspects of Rutherford terroir. Stylistically, this wine shows finesse and balance, with dark fruit hints, savory notes and supple, well-formed tannins. This wine is age-worthy and deserving of a place of honor in your cellar and on your table.
2021 Growers Series Blanc de Blancs
Made in the Méthode Champenoise, this Blanc de Blancs aged en tirage for 18 months before being disgorged. It is beautifully juicy and refreshing, with delicate bubbles and a rich mouthfeel. This pale yellow sparkling wine offers delicate, lacy bubbles in the glass and aromatic notes of pear, lemon zest, and toasty almond. Notes of apple and brioche are balanced with juicy, mouthwatering citrus. Structured with bright acidity and a creamy, long finish, this sparkling wine showcases the beauty of the fruit.
2022 Proprietary Syrah
100% Syrah | Rutherford
This expressive wine is dark and fruit-forward with notes of blueberry, cassis, and black pepper. Made in the Rhône style, this Syrah offers soft tannins that linger on the palate, leading to a well-textured finish.
2021 Honouren Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is juicy and supple with ripe tannins that carry the vibrant fruit through a rich, weighty finish. This wine is not only the perfect companion for hearty meals, but also a meaningful addition to those shared with family, as each bottle contributes to a heartfelt cause.
50% of the proceeds are donated to organizations dedicated to the fight against Alzheimer’s.
Our Mission
Join us in the fight against Alzheimer’s
Our Dad and founder, Bob MacDonnell, believed in hard work, kindness, and caring for your people. Although he lost his battle with Alzheimer’s, we aim to honor his legacy and the 50 million people worldwide affected by Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Through dedicated wine sales and innovative programs, we’ve donated over $248,000 for the fight against Alzheimer’s since 2021.
In October we released our second vintage of Honouren Cabernet Sauvignon highlighting another 120 individuals currently fighting or lost to Alzheimer’s. Honouren is our way to bring together community and raise vital funds for the fight to end Alzheimer’s. We are proud to donate 50% of the proceeds of each bottle sold to causes dedicated to ending Alzheimer’s. So far we have raised over $90,000 with the inaugural vintage and look forward to raising more this year.
We can’t do it without you! The impact of this project, both with how many people we honor and the funds we raise, is directly connected to getting the word out. Help us make the biggest impact we can, please share with your friends and family. Learn more here.
Upcoming Events
2024 Events
From release events and blending seminars to exceptional dinners and harvest parties — we hope you join us this year in Napa Valley!