Before there were vines: Ted drives a tractor along unplanted terrain with Mimi, Ben, Jessie, and Marilyn along for the ride, 1978.
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Driver in training: Ben hauls Jessie in the tractor under Terry and Marilyn’s watchful eyes, 1978.
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Harvest duties: Pat shows off her prized Bethel Heights Vineyard Pinot noir during harvest, 1981.
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Open house: The Bethel Heights winery finally opens to the public, hay bales and all, in 1984.
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Taste test: Jon samples delicious Eola Hills Gewürztraminer off the vine, 1982.
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Teenagers for hire: Cousins through thick and thin, the Casteel kids in the vineyard, 1989.
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West Block early days: The beginnings of our own-rooted Pinot noir in the West Block, 1980.
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Winemakers unite: Various Willamette Valley winery owners, growers, and winemakers gather in front of Nick’s Italian Café in downtown McMinnville to celebrate owner Nick Peirano’s 50th birthday, 1993.
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Winery opens: Pat, Ted, Marilyn, and Terry welcome visitors to the newly completed Bethel Heights Vineyard winery, 1984.
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Working girl: Jessie gets down to business pounding stakes in the estate vineyard, 1978.
The Beginning
United by their interest in wine, in 1977 Ted Casteel, Pat Dudley, Terry Casteel, and Marilyn Webb, together with Pat's sister Barbara Dudley, bought 75 promising-looking acres northwest of Salem, with 14 acres of newly planted cuttings in the ground. They moved to the property in 1978 and started a new life with a very big dream.
In 1979 the family cleared and planted 36 more acres and in 1981 they harvested their first crop and started home winemaking in Terry’s basement. In 1984 they produced their first commercial vintage of 3000 cases.
For the first 30 years Ted was responsible for managing the vineyards and Terry was the winemaker. Pat and Marilyn shared responsibilities for marketing and business needs.
The Bethel Heights team has now expanded to include second-generation leadership and ownership, bringing youthful energy, talent, and passion into the blend. The new additions to the team are Ben and Jon Casteel (Terry and Marilyn's sons) and Mimi and Jessie Casteel (Ted and Pat's daughters), who all grew up at Bethel Heights before venturing into the world.
Our visitors often notice how many landmarks in the area contain the name “Bethel,” including several roads, a school, a church and a cemetery. Where does the name come from? The answer may be found in a small booklet written in 1941 by John E. Smith called Bethel, Polk County, Oregon. According to Smith, "One of the earliest settlers in this vicinity was Rev. Glen O. Burnett who came to Oregon in 1846 and built his house half a mile or so north of the present location of Bethel School. To the heights eastward, he gave the name 'Bethel Hills', Bethel being the name of the church in Missouri that he had recently served as pastor."
The property now known as Bethel Heights Vineyard was originally platted in 1909 and recorded under the name Bethel Heights Walnut Groves. A number of the original walnut trees are still flourishing around the edges of the vineyard.
Quick Facts
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Bethel Heights vineyard established
1977
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Winery established
1984
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Estate vineyard acres
96 planted, 70 producing
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Current production
13,000 cases
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Grape varieties
Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner
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Resident dogs
2, Tony and Henry
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Weird but true
We love worms, and Mimi makes the most amazing worm tea (a biodynamic preparation that's sprayed in the vineyards) in the Willamette Valley.
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Tasting room tables
Built from 100-year-old Golden Pine recovered from the abandoned Tumalo Irrigation Company flumes in Central Oregon.
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Founders
Terry Casteel, Marilyn Webb, Ted Casteel, Pat Dudley, and Barbara Dudley
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Owners
Terry Casteel, Marilyn Webb, Ted Casteel, Pat Dudley, Barbara Dudley, Ben Casteel, Mimi Casteel, Jessie Casteel, Jon Casteel, DeeDee Dudley Gusmao, and Patricia Patterson Dudley
Featured Wine
'12 RoséSomething Completely Different The vintage, circumstance, and a general love of crisp pink wine for summertime, moved us to make this unusual blend in 2012. 75% Gewürztraminer,... Learn More $22 |
Our VineyardWelcome to the gorgeous Eola Hills of the Willamette Valley! This is the place we call home—we live and work here, and it’s where our grapes thrive. We believe our vineyard tells a story and is a living history of just one of many pioneering families who have chosen to raise wine grapes in Oregon. Learn More |
