Sustainability is now and has always been at the heart of what we do here at Round Pond Estate. For over 40 years, we have had the honor of stewarding this land.
Sustainability is not a one-time achievement, but rather a process, and we are constantly working on new ways to be conscious of how we utilize our resources.
We see sustainability manifesting across three core tenants at Round Pond Estate: people, place, and purpose. Through our Sustainability Series, we’re diving deeper into these three pillars and sharing more about this topic that is so dear to us.
People
We have an amazing team at Round Pond, from viticulture and winemaking to hospitality and sales. Our team is made up of a diverse population of inspiring people, hailing from a variety of places, backgrounds, communities and skill sets—and each member of the Round Pond family is crucial to what we do each day.
Meet a few faces of Round Pond:
Christina Marsalak – Membership Director
Christina is the heart and soul of Round Pond Membership, taking wonderful care of our wine club members and coordinating club allocations throughout the year.
When did you start working with Round Pond?
I started working at Round Pond in February 2013 while attending the Culinary Institute of America to pursue a career in wine. I quickly fell in love with the grounds, the wine, and the MacDonnell family and wanted to learn as much as possible.
What does a typical day look like for you at Round Pond?
Normal day to day, anything can happen as I help oversee many departments. I can be assisting with the tasting room or events, packing up shipments, answering phones and emails— but the best is when I get to connect with our members.
What’s your favorite Round Pond wine?
My favorite wine would be the Proprietary Red Blend. I was fortunate to meet my husband who was the assistant winemaker at Round Pond, and he let me participate in which blend would be our 2012 vintage. Ever since then, this wine shines year to year!
What does “sustainability” mean to you for your work at Round Pond?
Every day, it is important to think of how Round Pond came to be. Bob MacDonnell wanted to be a steward of the land, which is a key point for how we work today. From being farm-to-table, to doing our best to select greener options to share with our guests, to sending packets of seeds to our members so we can share what we do with others, it all comes back to maintaining what helps our vineyards, olive trees, and gardens grow along with keeping Mother Earth happy for future generations.
When not at the estate, what are you most likely doing?
Outside of RP, I love to bake with our three daughters, Madeline, Daisy, and Louisa. They keep us quite busy!
Emilio Alvarez – Estate Manager & Olive Mill Master
A core part of the Round Pond team from the very beginning, Emilio has done almost every job on the estate, dating back to packing the first wine shipments in the late 90s. Today, his tenure and wealth of experience – not to mention his warmth and positivity – make him an integral part of the Round Pond Estate team.
When did you start working with Round Pond?
I’ve been working for the MacDonnells since 1998 – with Round Pond since Day 1!
What does a typical day look like for you at Round Pond?
On a typical day, I start at my office looking at and answering emails. Since the estate is so large I never know how the day will go. I might be on the property doing tasks for Round Pond or tasks for the family. Or, I might be meeting with different contractors.
What’s your favorite Round Pond wine?
My favorite Round Pond wine is the Proprietary Nebbiolo.
What does “sustainability” mean to you for your work at Round Pond?
I’m grateful that Round Pond is making efforts for a sustainable future. I appreciate this as I hope to leave things better for future generations.
When not at the estate, what are you most likely doing?
When I’m not working I enjoy riding my bicycle and being with my family.
Rachel Preeg – Enologist
As Round Pond Enologist, Rachel crafts Round Pond wines on a microscopic level, running laboratory analysis on the wines from grape to glass. She was also the lead on our 2022 Napa Green Winery Certification, a very exciting achievement on our continual journey of sustainability on the estate.
When did you start working with Round Pond?
I joined Round Pond full time in March 2022. It was a pleasure to return to Round Pond after working my first harvest as an intern here in 2017.
What does a typical day look like for you at Round Pond?
Like most wine production roles, the duties vary by the time of year. The focus is constantly shifting between harvest, blending, bottling, vineyard assessments, etc. From an enology standpoint, I am running analysis on all chemical components that help direct winemaking decisions from grape to bottle. From an operations standpoint, I help with logistics, inventory, and managing workflow in the cellar.
What’s your favorite Round Pond wine?
Our Estate Sauvignon Blanc is always a slam dunk for me. When I’m in the mood for a red, the Eric Bovet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a big yet elegant wine that is acid driven and loaded with red fruit notes.
What does “sustainability” mean to you for your work at Round Pond?
I am extremely proud of Round Pond’s commitment to sustainability. It does not just mean changing to LED lightbulbs or recycling more cardboard but creating a change in mindset and behavior in the way we carry out our work. Being conscious of our environmental impact benefits Napa Valley and Round Pond in both the short and long term.
When not at the estate, what are you most likely doing?
I spend a lot of time running, rock climbing, and having impromptu dinner parties with friends. Recently, I’m spending a lot of time planning my wedding that is coming up in April!
Jeff Plant – Estate Winemaker
From Cellar Master in 2015 to Assistant Winemaker in 2019, to Estate Winemaker in 2023— Jeff has done every role in the cellar, from punch-downs and pumpovers to the myriad logistics involved in bottling a new vintage of Round Pond wines.
When did you start working with Round Pond?
I started in July 2015, hired as Cellar Master, then became the Assistant Winemaker in 2020 and promoted to Estate Winemaker in 2023.
What does a typical day look like for you at Round Pond?
In short, air traffic control, all day long! Outside of harvest, I’m boots on the ground at 7am at the winery, typically looking over our production schedule, checking on each wine’s chemistries that we’re looking at that day, and essentially managing the production and flow. A huge part of our winemaking process is logistics— what needs to move where, when, and ultimately getting wines ready to bottle.
What’s your favorite Round Pond wine? The Proprietary Super Tuscan. It’s light, delicious, easy-drinking and fun. It’s easy to share – I call it a wine that creates red wine lovers.
What does “sustainability” mean to you for your work at Round Pond? Sustainability to me means creating an environment that is building on itself. Every year we should be more sustainable than the year before. Sustainability isn’t something that can be accomplished; we can always be more sustainable, always improving to take better care of our environment.
When not at the estate, what are you most likely doing?
Lots of family time, chasing my daughter around!