Dear Friends,
We’re so excited to share the August club shipment with you – featuring two new releases from our Bovet Reserve Collection of wines. These wines honor our mother’s family who created exceptional wine in the early 1920’s as we carry on this legacy in the Napa Valley.
During the month of June, we honored our father, who we lost to Alzheimer’s Disease in 2021. We raised $20,524 by donating 10% of the proceeds of all Estate wine purchases to the Alzheimer’s Association®. Thank you to all who supported! Our goal for 2023 is to raise a total of $100,000 for this important cause.
We hope you’re enjoying a wonderful summer celebrating life with friends and family! Our members are extended family, and we deeply appreciate your continuing support. We hope you love these new wines as much as we do, sharing them with those you hold dearest.
Ryan MacDonnell Bracher & Miles MacDonnell
Second-Generation Owners
Spring 2023 Vineyard Update
The 2023 vintage is looking to be exceptional. With the wet winter and mild summer, the fruit set is full, and we are excited to have ample fruit to work with this year. An abundant amount of water and a mild summer also means this year’s grapes will have plenty of hang time (the time between flower and harvest), allowing maximum flavor development.
We just began harvesting on August 21st, bringing in Chardonnay which will eventually be our new 2023 Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine! In 2022 we brought in Chardonnay on August 6th, so we are about two weeks behind last year. We anticipate our Estate Sauvignon Blanc harvest to begin in about ten days (8/31), depending on upcoming weather. Typically, when we’re halfway through veraison on our Cabernet, we say we’re about 60 days out from harvest, which would bring us to late September if conditions remain consistent. We don’t expect to harvest any reds until mid-September, which is our latest start to harvest in over ten years, but you can’t rush a good thing!
Jeff Plant
Estate Winemaker
Spring Seeds - Pastel Carrots
This mix of pastel-colored carrots matures quickly and is perfect for early spring and summer planting.
Plant 3/4–1″ apart, 1/4–1/2″ deep, in rows 16–24″ apart. If needed, keep the soil moist, thin seedlings, maintain weed-free growth through weeding and hoeing, and cover the crowns to prevent greening.
Carrots can be harvested any time after reaching the desired size, with the best harvest period lasting about 3 weeks (longer in cool, fall weather). Make successive sowings at 3-week intervals for a continuous supply of tender carrots at their prime.
Spring Recipes
Click below to access some recipes from our Estate Chef.
To print the recipe click download at the bottom of the expanded block to download a printable PDF.
Onion Soubise
Featured in our Il Pranzo Experience, this soubise adds a layer of dimension to your favorite roasted meats and vegtables.
Ingredients
1 Whole White Onion
1 Pint Heavy Cream
1/2 TSP Fennel Seed
Salt to taste
DIRECTIONS
- Heat a large sauté pan over low-medium heat. Add the sliced onion to pan and salt, cook until soft and translucent. (10 minutes)
- Add fennel seed to pan and then immediately after add cream and simmer along with the onions. (about 20 minutes)
- Transfer mixture to a Vitamix and blend until completely smooth.
- Pass soubise through a fine mesh strainer and enjoy!
Citrus and Herb Soft Cheese
Featured in our Artisan Tasting Experience, this has been a consistent guest favorite and it’s the perfect addition to elevate your next hosting endeavor.
Ingredients
2 Lbs Fromage blanc (we use Cypress Grove)
3 EA Meyer lemons (just zest)
½ Cup Parsley (chopped)
½ Cup Chives(chopped)
DIRECTIONS
- You can mix by hand with a spatula to incorporate or if you have a kitchen aid mixer that works great! Make sure if you are using mixer to use the paddle attachment. Enjoy!
Meyer Lemon Bundt Cake
Meyer Lemon Cake
3-4 TSBP Butter, room temp
3 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 ½ TSP Baking Powder
½ TSP Baking Soda
1 TSP Kosher Salt
Zest of 2 Meyer Lemons
1 ¾ Cup Sugar
¼ Cup Meyer Lemon Juice
1 Cup Milk
2 TSP Vanilla Extract
1 ⅓ Cup Round Pond Meyer Lemon Olive Oil
4 Eggs
Glaze
⅔ Cup Sugar
½ Cup Meyer Lemon Juice
2 TBSP Round Pond Meyer Lemon Olive Oil
DIRECTIONS
-
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prep bundt pan with a thin layer softened butter and light dusting of flour.
- Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Set aside.
- Combine lemon juice, milk, and vanilla in small bowl. Set aside.
- Using a stand mixer, combine sugar and lemon zest. Massage to combine.
- Add eggs to sugar mixture and whip on high (about 3 minutes) until thick and fluffy.
- Stream olive oil into mixture and continue beating until emulsified.
- Reduce speed to low. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
- Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and bake for 45 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.
- While the cake bakes, prepare glaze by whisking all ingredients together.
- Remove cake from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before carefully unmolding from pan
- Use a toothpick to poke holes all over warm cake and liberally apply the glaze.
For more recipes and serving tips check out our blog, aRound the estate!
Your Summer Club Shipment
Spring Wine Selections
Each shipment is unique, click below to learn more about all of the August wines.
2021 Louis Bovet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
New Release
This striking Cabernet opens with concentrated aromatics featuring black cherry notes, allspice, cocoa nibs and a hint of coffee. Mouthwatering flavors of blackberry, plum and mulberry lead to a touch of black pepper spice and dried herbs on the finish. Firm tannins envelop the palate and are beautifully balanced by the acidity, leading to a long, satisfying finish.
2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
New Release
With exquisite texture and a velvety mouthfeel, this wine offers concentrated flavors of ripe raspberry and a hint of blue fruit with beautiful warm notes of allspice and black pepper. Carrying notes of strawberry balanced with a touch of coffee, the finish is satisfyingly long and perfectly summarizes the diverse flavors found on our Rutherford Estate and Oakville vineyards.
2021 Proprietary Red Wine Blend
2022 Jannine Bovet Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
New Release
Graceful aromas of ripe pear, golden apple, honeysuckle and a bright minerality leap out of the glass. Mouthwatering flavors of white peach, melon and lemon creme lead to bright structure and clean acidity. The light use of oak leads to rich mouthfeel balanced with a long finish with notes of nutmeg and citrus.
2021 Proprietary Super Tuscan
2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Special Library Release
Sourced entirely from the gravely sections of our estate, the 2016 Reserve Cabernet showcases what stunning flavors can come from our Rutherford vineyards. The aromatics burst from the glass with tremendous black currant and cassis notes, as well as highlights of licorice, forest floor, and black tea. Creamy, rich, and generous, this wine shows essences of plum, clove, and cigar box, which marry well with hints of dried herbs, licorice, and tarragon. The compelling finish unfolds with breadth and a lovely tension between the wine’s mouthwatering acidity and pleasing tannins
Our Mission
Join us to fight 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. Since 2021, through dedicated wine sales and innovative programs, we’ve donated over $158,000 to the Alzheimer’s Association® for awareness and funding toward a cure.
This June, in honor of Alzheimer’s and Brain Health Awareness Month, we donated 10% of proceeds from our Estate wine sales to the Alzheimer’s Association®. Thank you for helping us raise $20,524!
Each September, we participate in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s with our team, friends, and family. The Napa Valley Walk raised over $134,000 last year, and we’d love for you to join us on September 9th to raise funds for a great cause. Click here to sign up or support our team or learn more about our efforts.
Upcoming Events
Day in the Life of a Winemaker | Sunday, September 10th
11am – 2pm
Enjoy hands-on learning and a wine-paired lunch with our winemaking team as you experience the magic behind the bottle.
$325 per member | $375 per non-member
Limited to 24 spaces
Member Holiday Celebration – Saturday, December 9th
5pm – 7pm
Visit the winery and toast to the holidays with your favorite Round Pond wines and seasonally-inspired bites from our culinary team!
$75 per member