Enjoy a Private Willamette Valley Wine Tasting in Carlton, Oregon

Visit Lonesome Rock Cellars by Appointment

Looking for wine tasting near Carlton, Oregon? Lonesome Rock Cellars offers private, owner-hosted tastings just outside Carlton in the northern Willamette Valley. Set in the Coast Range foothills, our estate provides a quiet, personal alternative to traditional tasting rooms—while remaining just a short drive from downtown Carlton.

Reservations

All tastings are by appointment to ensure a private and personalized experience. Please call us at 847.308.9019 for same-day appointments. We will do our best to host you based on availability. We cannot accommodate walk-ins.

We welcome guests daily at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm.

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Just Beyond Carlton, A World Apart

Located 7 miles west of Carlton, Lonesome Rock is an easy 10-minute drive from the center of town. While close in distance, the setting feels entirely removed—surrounded by vineyard, forest, and open sky.

10 minutes from downtown Carlton
Northern Willamette Valley location
Set at the edge of the Coast Range
Sweeping views of the vineyard and mountains
Secluded, but easy to access

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What to Expect During Your Tasting

A Private, Owner-Hosted Experience

Each tasting at Lonesome Rock is private and hosted by the owners at the vineyard, offering a level of attention and connection that is rarely found in traditional tasting rooms.

Tastings are hosted on our veranda overlooking the vineyard and Coast Range. In colder or inclement weather, tastings may move indoors—though the views remain an integral part of the experience.

Each visit is seated and unhurried, allowing time to explore the wines, the vineyard, and the story behind them. The setting is quiet and personal, designed to feel immersive rather than transactional.

Private tastings reserved for your group
Five-wine curated flight
Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Burgundy Aligoté tied to Danny’s first years in the wine industry
Relaxed, unhurried pacing
Vineyard views and Coast Range backdrop
By appointment only

The Wines

Estate Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

The tasting includes a curated flight of five wines—single-vineyard, estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay—alongside an Aligoté we produce in Burgundy from the first vineyard we ever worked on, offering a meaningful connection between our origins and our winemaking today.

A Site That Shapes the Wine

With volcanic soils, coastal winds, and significant diurnal shifts, the high-elevation vineyard produces wines with structure, freshness, and a clear sense of place. The result is Pinot Noir with layered aromatics and Chardonnay with tension and mineral-driven length.

Why Choose Lonesome Rock

A Different Kind of Wine Tasting

Many wineries offer walk-in tastings and can be busy, especially on weekends. Lonesome Rock offers a different approach—focused on privacy, pace, and a deep connection to the wines and stories behind them.

Off the Beaten Path—In the Best Way

Just outside Carlton, our vineyard sits where the Willamette Valley begins to rise into the Coast Range. This unique location creates both a sense of seclusion and a distinct growing environment that shapes the wines.

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The People & Place Behind Our Wine Tastings

Every tasting at Lonesome Rock Cellars is hosted by Danny and Susan Klieman, whose path to this vineyard was shaped by years of learning, including time spent working in the vineyards and cellars of Burgundy, France. They welcome guests with a thoughtful exploration of the their wines and land, sharing how this hillside became the place where their long search for just the right piece of vineyard land finally came to rest.

Danny & Susan Klieman - A rare opportunity to connect with the owners who host all tastings
Loading fruit onto the sorting table bin by bin
The whole family sorting tons of fruit by hand
Waxing bottles of Pinot Noir by hand
Welcome to the Tasting House!
Lonesome Rock The Estate Pinot Noir 2023
Crimson clover cover crop at Lonesome Rock - our inspiration for the label
The very cold snowy winter
An unusually rainy day just before harvest
Winter views of the vineyard and Coast Range

Guest Reflections on Our Wine Tasting Experience

“Lonesome Rock is an amazing place - the views, the wine, the PEOPLE!"
Susan gave us a personal tasting that was so very special. This was the highlight of our road trip from San Fransico to Portland - when asked what part of our trip was their favorite - everyone said “Lonesome Rock!”
We ordered a case of wine and it arrived perfectly safe to Minnesota.
~Dawn U.
"These were very serious wines and outright delicious"
We had such a great time at Lonesome rock, it was our last tasting of our trip. These were very serious wines and outright delicious. The tasting was wonderful extremely hospitable, and the view was absolutely magical.
~ Michael M.
"Wow, just wow. "
This family run winery is worth the visit. Danny was an entertaining host, and loved the story on how he and his wife Suzy came to own this place along with their passion for wine. The wine is really good and the deck views are amazing. We will definitely be coming back again!
~ Dave R.
"The Lonesome Rock experience is more than FIVE stars"
This wine is more than FIVE stars. The Lonesome Rock experience is more than FIVE stars. The location is more than FIVE stars. A truly phenomenal and uniquely Oregon experience in Yamhill. Visited 8 wineries and only joined Lonesome Rock.
~ Marlana M.