Spirits from dreams of grappa.
Following where the spirits lead
Blake Franco, the tasting room manager at Bethel Rd Distillery, wasn’t wrong when he welcomed our tasting party to “the most unknown, underrated view in Paso Robles wine country.” The view of rolling hills and vineyards, with birds of prey soaring overhead, along with the spacious, inviting outdoor seating areas, was perfect on a Central Coast fall day to enjoy tasting Bethel Rd’s spirits–and wine!
Bethel Rd Distillery, opened in 2016, is another dimension of the vision of environmental sustainability from the pioneering Udsen family, founders of Castoro Cellars. During his time in Italy, Niels Udsen envisioned making grappa, a distilled spirit created from leftover grape seeds, skins, and stems. This idea naturally aligned with the Udsen family’s commitment to sustainability, regeneration, and respect for the land. “Why not transform winemaking leftovers into grappa and produce high-quality brandy, gin, and liqueur?” he asked.
So, he did. Bethel Rd Distillery holds one of the earliest-issued distillery licenses in the county and is one of 13 distilleries on the Paso Robles Distillery Trail, the only designated spirits trail in California.
The Udsen sons are spearheading the distillery, following the family legacy for sustainability. Max is the head distiller, and Luke heads up marketing and entertainment for both venues.
Max and Luke Udsen, brothers spearheading Bethel Rd. Distillery.
Let the spirits move you
Although the Spirit Tasting Flight selection may vary at times, our party was treated to the current tasting list, which included:
- Neutral Brandy, a modern, clean neutral brandy from organic estate-grown grapes, and the foundation for the rest of the Bethel Rd brandies.
- Grappa di Moscato, the spirit that started the Bethel Rd Distillery journey.
- House Brandy, cask-aged, hand-crafted from estate-grown vineyards, and distilled in small batches.
- VSOP Brandy, aged for six years instead of the traditional four years.
- Orange Liqueur, from organically grown oranges, hand harvested, and infused into Neutral Brandy, or Nocino, a walnut liqueur, with clove and cinnamon.
Enjoy some wine-time, too
Bethel Rd also produces small-batch artisanal wines under the direction of consulting winemaker Natasha Boffman. Vines are organically farmed and estate-grown in the Udsen family tradition. The grapes are 100% hand-harvested and sorted.
Plan to enjoy a wine flight. Given the variety of varietals grown, the tasting menu will change, constantly offering intriguing selections to explore.
Family and legacy
Max and Luke Udsen continue the family legacy and commitment to sustainability and the environment. The SIP and CCOF certifications awarded to the distillery are the result of careful and intentional stewardship. Sustainability and environmental programs include solar, water treatment, and other systems to offset consumption, growing organic yeast for wine production, composting and producing fertilizer, and using electric tractors.
“We are only temporary residents of the earth, so we must be sustainably responsible for those who come after us,” said our host, Blake.
The distillery is situated on a historic property with buildings dating back to the early 1900s. Of particular interest is the old barn, which now functions as the distillery. A tour might reveal some fun details about the barn’s structure, orientation, and the vertical beams supporting it. Over the years, due to the barn’s positioning and the daily wind from the Templeton Gap, the beams have become slightly slanted — but don’t worry, they have been reinforced.
And if you visit the barrel room, you’ll see the old stable with the original horse stalls still in place. The original farmhouse, next to the stable, is still maintained but is not currently in use.
Bethel Rd Distillery is located at 1266 N Bethel Rd., Templeton. The tasting room is open Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Reservations are requested for groups of 8 or more. For reservations or more information about spirits and wine, clubs, and events, visit bethelrddistillery.com or call (805) 434-0319.
—Don Sonderling
Don Sonderling is a freelance writer, covering California’s unique cultural lifestyle of wine, food, and activities, from Santa Barbara to Napa Valley and beyond. He may be reached at: donsonderling@gmail.com
