Bethel Rd. History
The path to Bethel Rd. has been one of passion, experimentation and homage to the tradition of spirit making from around the world. Since Niels Udsen’s time living in Italy, making Italian style Grappa has been something he dreamed of. After acquiring one of the first distilling licenses in the county and an Arnold Holstein Bavarian Still the dream has finally become a reality.
In its first phase of production, Bethel Rd. has created two outstanding Grappas, a Gin and a two-year barrel aged Brandy that is both rich and complex. You will also find top notch small batch wines made from Estate Grown Organically farmed grapes. This is only the beginning of the journey and many more spirited experiments are in the works.
Currently the distillery and winery is run by the Udsen family, with Max, Lauren, Malina and Luke taking the lead. Creativity and community are at the center of the Bethel Rd. mission with the goal being to manifest a space that is both inviting and inspirational. One can expect much more than distilled spirits when visiting Bethel Rd.
The Bethel Rd. Team
Max Udsen
Head Distiller
Having grown up in the wine industry, Max naturally knows his way around the cellar. Throw in a couple vintages down under and you’ve got a guy with a well-rounded skill set to create magic on the cellar floor. After returning to Templeton from his travels, Max took on the task of mastering the distillation process inside and out. He will be the first to admit, there is always more you can learn! max@bethelrddistillery.com
Luke Udsen
Tasting Room, Marketing
Coming from a world of live music and event promotion, Luke brings years of marketing experience to Bethel Rd. along with a desire to keep things fresh, fun and innovative. Capturing the magic as it is happening and sharing it with the world is something he loves to do! luke@bethelrddistillery.com
Tom Lane
Winemaker, Distiller
For over 30 years, Tom has been making a living as a winemaker and general winery manager. Couple that with a Masters in Biology, it’s safe to say, the man knows his stuff! Not only does Tom bring a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to Bethel Rd. he brings an endless desire to learn and produce the best wines and spirits possible. tlane@bethelrddistillery.com
Lauren Udsen
Tasting Room, Creative Director
With a background in yoga and art, Lauren brings a wide spectrum of creative tools and passion to Bethel Rd. Thinking outside of the box is something that comes naturally to Lauren and in turn drives Bethel Rd. to achieve its goals of being an intentional place for the community to gather. lo@bethelrddistillery.com
Malina Wiebe
Operations
After years of playing in the tech arena, from Portland to San Francisco, Malina was ready to tackle a more tangible product. Having worked along side of some of the most influential shapers of today's technical landscape she developed a keen eye for passion, innovation and curiosity. Turning her love of sprits into a full-time way of life was a natural transition! malina@bethelrddistillery.com
Nick Otto
Executive Chef
Nick was the first Templeton High School student to attend the Paso Robles ROP Culinary Arts Academy and during his two years there he learned just about everything you could want to know about cooking in a commercial kitchen. From there Nick spent 11 years at Villa Creek in downtown Paso Robles as well as a handful of other establishments. He and his wife Kellymarie have two beautiful children and love their life here in Paso Wine Country.
