The Vineyard

Head 7 miles west and hundreds of feet up in elevation from the tiny town of Carlton, OR, past famous vineyards, organic farms, a butterfly sanctuary, and forests abound with elk, bear, and mountain lions, and you’ll find Lonesome Rock tucked away alone in the Pacific Coast Range.

Farmed organically with 270 degrees of exposure, including an uncommon, northerly-facing parcel, the well-drained hillsides at Lonesome Rock consist of the cool volcanic soils found in the Dundee Hills as well as the warmer marine sedimentary soils of Yamhill-Carlton. Climbing from 575 to 765 ft., the 15-acre vineyard is planted to chardonnay, pinot meunier, and 5 different heritage, dijon, and exotic clones of pinot noir.

Mountains to the north and west protect us from threatening precipitation during the growing season by creating a “rain shadow,” while the elevation and coastal influences result in a 45-degree difference between day and nighttime temperatures during the critical weeks of ripening. These unique micro-climatic conditions work together, allowing our naturally low-yielding vineyard to ripen incrementally — fully but slowly — resulting in wines that hold on to an electric acidity and the potential for rare ageability.

The singular taste this creates is what we’ve been looking for since our earliest days in France.