BETHEL HEIGHTS VINEYARD
Our History
Bethel Heights is a family and a place
It was love at first sight when Terry Casteel and Marilyn Webb, and Ted Casteel and Pat Dudley first saw the abandoned Bethel Heights Walnut Grove in 1977, with its gentle south-facing slopes, its pure spring water running through a shady ravine, its rich diversity of wildlife. They left their jobs, packed up their families, staked out their vineyard, and never looked back. Above all else we have always sought to grow our grapes and make our wine without diminishing the vibrant life of this unique place.
Terry Casteel, 1978
First Commercial Vintage, 1984
The Family in new shed, 1978
For the first twenty years Ted managed the vineyards and Terry made the wine, Pat and Marilyn shared responsibilities for marketing and business management. Pat’s father, Robert Dudley and her sister, Barbara Dudley, were with us from the very beginning as investors and Directors. We all learned to work collaboratively with like-minded colleagues to continually improve the quality of our viticulture and our wines, to establish international recognition for the Willamette Valley as the home of New World Pinot Noir, and to protect the integrity of the Willamette Valley landscape.
Winery Grand Opening in 1985
Meanwhile five cousins grew up in the vineyard, and today the family’s second generation is firmly at the helm as co-owners, co-workers, and stewards of this place for the next generation. In 2006, Ben Casteel took over from his father as the second-generation Winemaker. In 2025, when Mimi’s father retired as Vineyard Manager, Mimi stepped in as our Viticulturist. Jessie Casteel, Jon Casteel, and DeeDee Dudley are active members of the Board of Directors.
Our third generation is now ten people strong, a constant source of inspiration to keep our commitment to tomorrow.
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