Our Family
For more than four decades, the MacDonnell family has called Round Pond home. What began with Bob and Jan MacDonnell’s vision in the early 1980s is today carried forward by their children, Ryan and Miles — second-generation stewards of the land, the wines, and the family legacy.
Bob & Jan MacDonnell, Our Founders
In the early 1980s, Bob and Jan MacDonnell bought the first parcel of land in the Napa Valley of what would one day become Round Pond Estate. Guided by their dedication and insight, the family has had the privilege of discovering the inner beauty of this remarkable land. From the beginning, they knew that this rich, fertile part of Rutherford had all the potential to produce world-class wines and specialty foods of rare distinction. Perhaps more important, from their earliest efforts on, they found great joy in sharing these creations with friends and family.
Ryan & Miles, the Second Generation
Working the land, especially a great piece of land, is not about bending it to your will. Through a passionate process of experimentation and refinement, for more than a quarter century, our family has strived to help this magnificent property evolve and achieve its full potential. As our home, and the center of our family life, over the years we have grown to know Round Pond intimately – we have discovered its complexities, learned its secrets, and coaxed fruits of rare quality from its rich soils.
My brother Miles and I grew up at Round Pond. We played in the vineyards and learned respect and appreciation for the land from our mother and father. Today, as managing partners, we are proud to continue their hard work with an eye to the future. Offering a second generation of energy and dedication, we have focused on the creation of our family’s estate wine program, and the production of artisan gourmet foods from the abundance of Round Ponds’ orchards and vineyards. Still guided by the practical wisdom and aesthetic vision of our parents who maintain an active relationship with the land, we strive to craft products of unparalleled quality, while nurturing our home.
– Ryan MacDonnell
Our dad always said, “People are everything,” and this is a tenet we honor to our core.
Our people, our teams, and our guests mean everything to us. We strive to create an equitable, diverse environment for our employees and honor their work and life balance. We hope to provide an educational, inspiring, and engaging environment for all of our guests who visit. We honor the work of our teams and thank them for helping us to preserve this land and business for the next generation.