Page 99 - SLO Visitors Guide Fall-Holiday 2026

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Wine Tasting
HOYT
FAMILY VINEYARDS
8 0 5 - 3 6 9 - 1 0 9 2
ORDER ONLINE
VINEYARD TOUR TASTING ROOM
1322 Park Street
THURSDAY-SATURDAY 12-8 PM
SUNDAY 12-5PM
MON.-WED. BY APPT.
SEE YOU DOWNTOWN AT HOYTS
OR UP AT THE RANCH FOR A VINEYARD TOUR!
Max and Luke Udsen spearhead Bethel Rd Distillery.
Bethel Rd Distillery,
a journey of family legacy
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
over-
head,
along
with the
spacious,
inviting
outdoor seat-
ing areas, was
perfect on a Central
Coast fall day to enjoy tast-
ing Bethel Rd’s spirits–and wine!
Bethel Rd Distillery, which
opened in 2016, is another
dimension to the environmen-
tal sustainability vision of the
pioneering Udsen family, found-
ers of Castoro Cellars. During
his time in Italy, Niels Udsen
envisioned making grappa, a
spirit distilled from leftover grape
seeds, skins, and stems. This idea
naturally aligned with the Udsen
family's commitment to sustain-
ability, 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 Dis-
tillery holds one of the earliest-
Following where
the spirits lead
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, Max and
Luke, spearhead the distillery,
following the family legacy for
sustainability. Max is the head
distiller, and Luke heads up
marketing and entertainment for
both venues.
Let the spirits move you
Although the Spirit Tast-
ing Flight selection may vary at
times, our party was treated to
the current tasting list, which
included:
• Neutral Brandy, a mod-
ern, clean neutral brandy from
organic estate-grown grapes, and
the foundation for the rest of the
Bethel Rd brandies.