[Photos courtesy of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance] A Paso Robles wine pioneer – Castoro Cellars proprietor Neils Udsen was named the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance's Wine Industry Person of the Year. Above, Udsen in the vineyard and below with family and friends during the 18th Annual Wine Country Gala at the Park Ballroom.

Described as an "innovator" who helped lead the Paso Robles Wine Country to "insurmountable growth," a pioneer of Paso Robles viticulture and key player in helping establish the area as a world-class destination, albeit "laid-back" destination location, Castoro Cellars proprietor Niels "Beaver" Udsen was recently named the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance [PRWCA] 2009 Wine Industry Person of the Year.

Surrounded by family, friends and fellow Paso Robles wine industry members during the PRWCA's 18th Annual Wine Country Gala held last Friday evening, Jan. 22 at the Park Ballroom in Downtown Paso Robles, Udsen received the honor.

According to the PRWCA, Udsen's passion for winemaking began at the early age of 14 in Denmark and continues today in Paso Robles Wine Country.

"From launching his own brand (Castoro Cellars) to identifying the need for 'custom crush' services on the Central Coast, Udsen's outstanding leadership and vision in promoting the wine industry on a local, state and national level has been invaluable to the Paso Robles Wine Community," a media release announcing the selection stated.

Udsen started in Paso Robles Wine Country while the American Viticultural Area [AVA] was still in infancy. In 1981, after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Udsen began working in the wine cellar of Estrella River Winery under the direction of Estrella's then winemaker, Tom Myers. Niels learned all aspects of winemaking from the ground up and took advantage of working with a leading winery in the developing region.







For the complete article see the 01-29-2010 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 01-29-2010 paper.

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