Rutherford · Napa Valley
Visit Round Pond with a Private Chauffeur
A family farm in Rutherford that makes Cabernet and presses its own olive oils, with tastings looking out over vines and gardens toward the Mayacamas, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Bob and Jan MacDonnell bought their first parcel in Rutherford in the early 1980s, and the MacDonnell family has called Round Pond home for more than four decades. Their children, Ryan and Miles MacDonnell, are the second-generation managing partners today, and the estate is dedicated to Bob and to people living with Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.
Round Pond is a 468-acre farm and winery in the Rutherford appellation, with five vineyard sites and a long focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. It is also a working olive farm: the estate presses its own olive oils, and guests can taste them side by side with the wines. Thomas Rivers Brown consults, and Jeff Plant has been the estate winemaker since 2015.
The visit is about the farm as much as the wine. Seated tastings look out over the vineyards and the Mayacamas Mountains, with culinary gardens and olive orchards around you. Our guests often pick the Artisan Estate Tasting with a gourmet plate, or Vino & Olio to compare the oils with the wines; Il Pranzo adds a tour of the winery, vineyards and gardens and a four-course lunch from Estate Chef Fernando Arias.
Tasting Fees
$60 for the Portfolio Estate Tasting of estate-grown wines and $60 for the alcohol-free Olive Oil Discovery Tasting. $95 for the Artisan Estate Tasting with a gourmet plate and $95 for the Gourmet Olive Oil Experience with small bites. $125 for the Cabernet Collectors Experience, $155 for Vino & Olio (olive oils, a wine flight and charcuterie) and $250 for Il Pranzo, a tour and four-course pairing.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
875 Rutherford Road, Rutherford
AVA
Rutherford
Visiting
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Known For
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon and estate-grown olive oils
Founded
The MacDonnell family bought its first Rutherford parcel in the early 1980s
Good to Know
The estate cannot host anyone under 21, including infants, or pets. The olive oil tastings are alcohol-free. Wine club benefits apply to all experiences.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:55 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn, so you are at Round Pond when it opens at 10.
9:55 · Pickup at Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn
Rancho Caymus Inn is just down Rutherford Road, a few minutes from the estate, and Harvest Inn at the south end of St. Helena is about 12 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · Round Pond Estate
The Portfolio Estate Tasting ($60); the winery does not publish a length, so we plan about an hour. The Artisan Estate Tasting ($95) adds a gourmet plate.
11:10 · Tres Sabores
About 8 minutes away. Julie Johnson's organic farm and winery at the western edge of the valley, with a private table next to the vineyard and a self-guided wander past the farm animals, hedgerows and kitchen garden. The Portfolio Wine Tasting Experience is $65 for about 90 minutes. By appointment, Wednesday to Monday; first tasting 10 a.m., last 3 p.m.
12:55 · Lunch at Mustards Grill
About 15 minutes away. Lunch at Mustards Grill on Highway 29 just north of Yountville, the long-running valley favorite where winemakers lunch with truckers. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. (11 a.m. Friday to Sunday). Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:05 · Baldacci Family Vineyards
About 12 minutes away. A family-owned Stags Leap District estate with its own wine caves. Taste of Napa Valley, at a private table with cheese and charcuterie, is $85 for 75 minutes; the private Cave Tour tasting is $125 for 90 minutes. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by reservation; no minors or pets.
3:20 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:35 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
About $210 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Round Pond is open Wednesday to Sunday, so plan this day for those days.
Every tour is custom. This day is a starting point: your chauffeur will shape it around what matters to you, and we plan multi-day tours for guests who want to see more of wine country.
Your Vehicle & Six-Hour Tour Rates
Up to 6 guests
Elite Luxury SUV
Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade
From $750
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $125 each.
Up to 9 guests
Jet Sprinter or Executive Luxury Van
Captain's chairs and room to spread out
From $1,350
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $225 each.
Larger groups travel in more than one vehicle, and we plan the winery appointments around your group, since many wineries limit groups to 6 to 8 guests. Tasting fees are separate and paid directly to each winery. Every tour starts with six hours; add time by the hour when you book.
Questions
Do I need a reservation at Round Pond?
Yes. Visits are by appointment, Wednesday to Sunday. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Round Pond?
$60 per person for the Portfolio Estate Tasting, $95 to $155 for the seated food, Cabernet and olive oil experiences and $250 for Il Pranzo, as of September 2026.
Can children or pets visit Round Pond?
No. The estate cannot host guests under 21, including infants, or pets.
Does Round Pond make olive oil?
Yes. Round Pond grows and presses its own olive oils, and offers olive oil tastings with or without wine.
Who owns Round Pond?
The MacDonnell family. Ryan and Miles MacDonnell, the second generation, are the managing partners.
How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?
Reserve a six-hour tour online, even if your plans are still taking shape. Your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Extra hours can be added.
Reserve Your Tour Now, Plan the Details Later
Your plans don't need to be final to book. Reserve your six-hour tour online, and your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Prefer to talk? Call our concierge at 888-291-2328.
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