The twin brothers own Bethel Heights Vineyards just northwest of Salem, OR. Nearly 25 years ago, Ted and his wife Pat Dudley, both professors of history at the University of Michigan, Dearborn campus, decided to pool their resources with Terry and his wife, Marilyn Webb to purchase a farm in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
Terry worked as a psychologist, and Marilyn was assistant dean of women for the University of Washington in Seattle.
"We wanted to quit and have a different lifestyle," recalled Pat Dudley, who manages the business end of the winery. Her husband Ted is the vineyard manager.
"We missed teaching, and the winery turned out to be more work than we imagined. But it was absolutely worth it. It is the lifestyle we wanted."
The Casteel families purchased 75 acres, dubbed Bethel Heights, in 1977 and began to develop it for growing grapes and making wine. Their timing was good-the wine industry in Oregon was just beginning to blossom.
Winemaker Terry Casteel chuckles about those first few years as a transplanted professional-turned farmer.
"We were eggheads who liked wine," Terry said. "We wanted to raise our kids in a different environment. So, we raised our families along with our vineyards. There were a lot of hard parts to it. But we feel good about our choice, and our partnership with nature."
Ted and Pat began taking courses in viticulture at the University of California, Davis campus to learn how to manage the vineyards. Terry studied making wine and Marilyn worked on finances and the marketing end. Everyone pitched in, including the children. (Each couple has two children).
Bethel Heights now produces about 8,500 cases of wine per year. The goal is to grow to 10,000 cases and stay in a holding pattern, focusing on making good wine, rather than growing in size. Keeping the size down helps to maintain a hands-on approach to the wine, said Terry.
Most of the grapes used in the wines are grown on the estate. Terry believes it is what makes Bethel Heights wine different from other Oregon wines on the market. His wines express the terrior of the land-the soil, climate, traits and characteristics with minimal tampering by the winemaker.
"We want our wine to stand on its own and showcase its roots," Terry said. "We take a more delicate approach to winemaking. I take a lighter approach than many winemakers in Oregon so that the consumer can taste the grape. With our Pinot Noir, we not only want to taste the fruit, but taste the character of Bethel Heights."
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