Tim A.
Yelp
First off, lets talk about the winery. It's one of the most beautiful entrances of any winery in the valley. It's not over the top, but tall, palm lined road that heads straight to the winery is an amazing entrance and a subtle mental note of "I have arrived!". Due to COVID, I really haven't spent any time inside the winery or the wine bar, just kind of walk past it to the huge covered timber framed patio (with heaters for the cold days and umbrellas for the warm ones). A portion of the patio is uncovered and has beautiful views overlooking their vineyards and has a huge gas fireplace for those really chilly winter evenings.
Second, the wine. They have a couple whites (sauv blanc) that are incredible. Fresh, bright, crisp and ideal for any summer day. Their reds are big, chewy, tannic, age worthy reds. All cab based...give them time in the glass and enjoy the flavor as it evolves. Most of these reds will age over the next 15 to 20 years. Price you ask? The wines are not inexpensive per se however, in this region, their wines are more economical than many of their neighboring wineries and provide excellent QPR for age worthy Napa cabs.
Lastly, the staff. We belong to a fair amount of wineries and have visited many wineries in Walla Walla, Willamette Valley, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, etc but only join a wine club if the wine is excellent BUT, the experience must also be. I cannot attest to all the staff but my assumption is they are all excellent. There is a very unique culture here that is laid back and the hospitality is second to none. It's not stuffy, but rather fun, relaxed, and interactive. Upon entering the winery, you encounter the BEST HOST I've ever come across, Guy. Guy is a wonderful human, friendly, funny, witty and a helluva character. He passed us off to Juan our tasting consultant for the day and let me tell you, this guy knows his stuff. He's a real study in wine, wine making, and the Round Pond history. He is one of the best tasting room people I've ever encountered and is flat out a fantastic dude. The entire hospitality we encountered at Round Pond made us feel not only welcomed, but like family.
Wine is all about using your senses; sight, smell, and taste. Round Pond also completes the experience with senses as well with their winery, their wine and their staff. Sitting on their patio looking out at their vineyard, drinking their superb wine, and being taken care of by their staff will not only make an incredible experience for you, but also lasting memories of your visit here for years to come.