Beginnings in the Willamette Valley

Danny Klieman walking Lonesome Rock Vineyard for the first time in October 2020

Our first visit to Lonesome Rock in October 2020 was unforgettable. Instead of the usual bustle of harvest—workers in the vines, the hum of tractors, the rhythmic snip of pruning shears—there was something entirely different. Thousands of birds filled the vineyard, feasting on the untouched grapes, their chirping almost deafening.

The reason? Smoke taint. The worst fires the Willamette Valley had ever seen had consumed the region that year, and the lingering smoke had ruined the fruit, making it unsuitable for winemaking. An entire year’s worth of labor, patience, and hope—gone. Watching the birds devour what should have been a promising vintage, we felt the full weight of what it meant to work the land, to put everything on the line for a harvest that isn’t always guaranteed.

It was a sobering moment, one that made us pause and ask ourselves: Were we truly ready for this risk? Could we pour our hearts into a vineyard knowing that nature, in all its beauty and fury, had the final say?

But Lonesome Rock had already captured our hearts. Even in that moment of loss, we saw something deeper—resilience, potential, and the fulfillment of a 30-year dream. We didn’t walk away that day. Instead, we made the choice to move forward, to embrace the uncertainty, and to build something meaningful.

Because in wine, as in life, the greatest rewards come to those willing to take the risk. 🍷