Bethel Heights Vineyard

Two families established Bethel Heights Vineyard in 1977, in the Eola Hills northwest of Salem, Oregon. Twin brothers Ted and Terry Casteel and their partners Pat Dudley and Marilyn Webb detoured into winemaking after trying their hands at other careers and interests. Ted and Pat were graduate students doing historical research in France when they discovered the joys of wine. Marilyn and Terry were practicing therapists in Seattle when they started drinking Burgundy and became wine enthusiasts. Reunited by their newfound interest in wine, in 1977 the two families, together with Pat's sister Barbara Dudley, bought 75 promising looking acres and started a new life.

We firmly believe the old adage that great wine is made in the vineyard. Once the fruit is harvested our winemaking emphasizes gentle handling and minimum intervention through all phases of processing. Grapes from each section of the vineyard are vinified and aged in separate lots until they are bottled, so that we can learn as much as possible about their individual differences and qualities, and how they develop over time.

The heart of Bethel Heights Vineyard is Pinot noir. Three-fourths of the original estate vineyard, thirty-seven acres, is planted to Pinot noir. The new Justice Vineyard, planted in 1999, brought another thirteen acres of Pinot noir into the estate blend starting in 2003. The oldest vines, planted in 1977 and 1979, are Pommard and Wädenswil clones. More recent plantings include Dijon clones 114, 115, 667 and 777. BETHEL HEIGHTS ESTATE GROWN PINOT NOIR blends fruit from all the different sections of the estate vineyards, creating our signature wine.