I’m like the Michael Moore of Bethel Heights

..had this camera for almost four years before I realized it takes video. Yeah. And I’m what passes for technical support around here.
Anyway, during my visit earlier this month, I got to sit in on a blind tasting and discussion of the Bethel Heights 2007 pinots. I won’t give away any secrets, [...]

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Champion of Chardonnay, Lonnie Lister

Lonnie Lister, wine buyer for the Skyline Country Club in Tucson, Arizona, visited Bethel Heights during a recent trip to Oregon. He liked our Estate Chardonnay so much he decided to offer it by the glass when the club reopens in October. Hooray for Lonnie! So nice to meet a wine buyer [...]

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Vintage 2008 – approaching the home stretch

We saw our first signs of color change at Bethel Heights on the 16th of August.  While we are late, the intense summer has accelerated fruit development, putting us in position for a normal harvest.  The potential crop is a bit on the short side, which should make for loose clusters and less botrytis pressure.  [...]

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Well the Moon is in Sagittarius, so I must be…

Stirring fermented poop.
Now, for some people, standing over a giant garbage can full of, ahem, water with poop in it, stirring vigorously with a canoe paddle first one way, then the other, might be an excellent opportunity to consider the job market, whether one’s resume is in order.  If it is also before the first [...]

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What’s in a Name? Lore and History of the Eola Hills

The name “Eola” was adapted from the word, “Aeolus”, a minor deity of the ancient Greeks who was in charge of the winds. Local lore suggests the name was put forward by Lindsay Robbins, a pioneer musician who appreciated the powerful, predictable afternoon marine breeze coming straight from the coast through the Van Duzer [...]

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A Winemaker’s Fable on the origins of the ancient grape, Pinot noir

 
 

The following fable (Tall Tale) occurred to me one morning in the shower. It is best told as if it were true.  When I have done a good job of introducing it, I have managed to keep the audience with me until near the end. I suspect that’s true because most of the audience, especially [...]

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Who Owns the Family Farm?

Every now and then Bethel Heights Vineyard Inc. has to to send a list of its stockholders to various federal and state alcohol control agencies, so they can keep an eye out for dangerous mobsters who may be operating behind our innocent facade.  At latest count we have eleven stockholders.  Most of them are headquartered [...]

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A Day with the Bottling Crew

From Marilyn Webb, Bethel Heights CFO and Resident Cook:

This is about the fourth time I’ve offered lunch for the bottling line crew.  They work hard and fast, bottling and labeling close to 2000 cases of wine a day, with our son, Jon’s, mobile bottling line.  Mostly Hispanic, the crew supporting the mechanics of the bottling [...]

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International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) 2008

IPNC  was all about sustainability this year – right up our alley.  Our own Ted Casteel, founder of Oregon’s LIVE program, and our 2006 Flat Block Pinot Noir, represented Oregon on the international panel for the main seminar on “Sustainability without Sacrifice,”  along with Frédéric Lafarge (Domaine Michel Lafarge, Burgundy), Michael Dhillon (Bindi Wines, Australia), [...]

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Wine Family Wedding atop Freedom Hill

McKenzie Dusschee was a gorgeous, gracious bride last Saturday, August 9th, overlooking her family’s Freedom Hill Vineyard. I didn’t manage to grab many photos of her, however, as I was too distracted by the dangerous dance moves of Mark ‘Freaky V’ Vlossak.
Continue at your own risk.
Jessie Casteel

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