Earlier in May I visited San Francisco with my sister and friends. I lived in the city from 1999 to 2001, so revisiting my old neighborhood and reconnecting with longtime friends felt special. San Francisco remains one of my favorite places.
Of course we made time for Napa Valley. Our first stop was Round Pond Estates in Rutherford. It was my first visit to this winery and I was impressed by the setting and the thoughtful approach to food and wine.
Round Pond has a second-story tasting lounge and a covered terrace with panoramic vineyard views and the Mayacamas Mountains in the distance. The landscape is beautiful and the tasting room offers a calm, scenic place to enjoy wines.
One of the highlights for me was discovering Round Pond’s olive mill, located just across the street from the tasting room. After a garden-inspired food and wine pairing, we crossed over for the Olive Mill Experience.
The Olive Mill Experience explains olive cultivation, harvest timing, and the estate’s artisan olive oil production methods. We enjoyed a guided tasting of fresh olive oils and red wine vinegar blends alongside small bites prepared with organic produce and local meats and cheeses.
The tasting menu featured inventive pairings created by Round Pond’s estate chef, and recipe cards were provided so guests can recreate the dishes at home. Highlights from the tasting included:
- Burrata with roasted asparagus, arugula pesto and crunchy quinoa
- Smoked salmon lollipop
- Roasted yellow beets with blood orange oil and sea salt
- Baby lettuces with red wine vinaigrette
- Seasoned pork tenderloin with herb argo dolce and huckleberry compote
- Meyer lemon olive oil cake
- Pomegranate gelée
- Blood orange brownies
The olive oil and vinegar blends were flavorful and surprisingly versatile in both savory and sweet applications. We finished the experience with a Strawberry and Ginger Shrub mocktail enhanced with blood orange olive oil and pomegranate syrup—a bright, refreshing drink.
If you visit Napa Valley, I recommend stopping at Round Pond Estates and trying the Olive Mill Experience. It’s a memorable tasting that highlights estate-grown ingredients and thoughtful pairings.
One standout for me was the Blood Orange Brownies made with Round Pond’s Blood Orange Olive Oil. They were exceptional—moist, chocolatey, and brightened by the citrus oil. I baked them at home and they were just as impressive.
Below is the recipe I adapted from Round Pond Estates so you can try these brownies at home. The original recipe is credited to Round Pond.
Blood Orange Brownies
Uses an 8-inch square baking pan and yields about 12 brownies. Lining the pan with parchment makes removal easy.
Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 40 mins | Total Time: 45 mins
Course: Dessert | Author: Hip Foodie Mom
Ingredients
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 2 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
- 3 tablespoons Round Pond Blood Orange Olive Oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 oz Round Pond Estate Blood Orange Citrus Syrup (optional for drizzling)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and spray lightly if desired.
- Melt the butter and chocolate together over very low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool a minute or two. Stir in the blood orange olive oil, sugar, and vanilla.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating quickly after each addition so the eggs incorporate without cooking. Stir in the salt, cocoa powder, and flour until combined.
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake until set, about 35–40 minutes. Cool completely before cutting. Drizzle with blood orange citrus syrup if desired.
Recipe from Round Pond Estates, shared with permission.
The Giveaway
Giveaway open to residents within the United States only.
Enter the giveaway hosted by Round Pond Estates for a chance to win a selection of their olive oils, vinegars, and syrups.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. The giveaway is sponsored by Round Pond Estates. All opinions expressed are my own.