Page 103 - SLO Visitors Guide - Fall 2024

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Wine Tasting
HANDCRAFTED BOUTIQUE WINES
even Angels Cellars
Open Fri-Sun 12-5 and by appointment
2985 Anderson Rd., Paso Robles off the 46 West
805.835.4054 SevenAngelsCellars.com
New
Location!
Taste artisan spirits and small-lot
wines at Bethel Rd Distillery
The second
generation leads
the way
Located just off Highway 46 West
in the heart of Paso Robles wine
country, Bethel Rd. Distillery and
Winery is located across the street
from Castoro Cellars. The family
venture is the perfect spot to enjoy
craft spirits and wine in a cozy and
inviting setting.
Niels Udsen, the founder of
Castoro Cellars, had a dream of
making Italian-style Grappa since
his early years when he spent time
living in Italy and absorbing the
traditions. After acquiring the first
distilling license in the county and
having a handmade Arnold Hol-
stein Bavarian copper still imported
from Germany in 2012, the dream
started to become a reality.
Once the still arrived, Niels’
son Max expressed an interest in
learning how to operate it. After
experimenting and perfecting the
distilling process, the next step was
to take the father-son project to a
bottle. That’s when the Bethel Road
property was developed and the
second label and brand launched.
The Bethel Rd. brand allowed the
new venture to focus on spirits and
small lot winemaking as a stand-
alone entity.
Today, Max and his brother
Luke lead the way for the Bethel
Rd. business. Max continues to be
involved in the production side,
while Luke manages the marketing
and social media (as he does for
Castoro Cellars). “We're an artisan
distillery and winery focused on
making the finest spirits and wines.
We offer an array of spirits made
from estate-grown grapes ranging
from gin to grappa and are proud
to have a space where friends and
family can sit and enjoy a glass
together,” said Luke.
Unlike most spirits, which are
derived from grain, Max utilizes
estate-grown grapes to craft Bethel
Rd.’s unique style of spirits. Grapes
are first harvested, then crushed
and destemmed before fermenta-
tion in open bins, much like the
process for winemaking. Turning
this juice into a spirit takes the
extra step of distillation.
Visitors to the Bethel Rd tasting
room can enjoy much more than
the distilled spirits. “We have creat-
ed outstanding Grappas, beautifully
balanced Gins, vibrant liqueurs,
and complex aged brandies. You
will also find top-notch small batch
wines, highlighting unique single
varietal releases grown exclusively
in the Templeton Gap,” said Max.
With two tasting bars, plenty
of options for spirit or wine tast-
ing, charcuterie plates, and other
gourmet items, this is an ideal stop
to spend some time and appreciate
the passion and efforts of the Udsen
family. The stills are located inside
the tasting room along with a cozy
lounge area. The property includes
an expansive picnic area with
breathtaking vineyard views. As the
warmer weather arrives you will
find several opportunities to enjoy