Filmmaker to waitress to winemaker

Pam Walden, an urban winemaker and owner of Willful Wine, fell into the wine business backwards. After a promising career at the BBC was derailed by layoffs, this London native found herself waitressing in a small restaurant in France's Dordogne region.

One day, a budding winemaker – an American – walked in. Pam fell in love and followed him back to Oregon, supporting his dream of opening his own winery.

Helping out in the cellar, getting her hands dirty working closely with the grape-growers, and assisting with blending gave Pam the hands-on training she needed – and a passion for making wine.

Now with her own label, Pam just signed a lease on a new production facility in Portland that will allow her to make all of her wine in town, close to her sons, Cato and Samson, rather than splitting her efforts between Portland and the Valley.

The new facility, Urban Crush, will be a shared facility with two other winemakers and will have a tasting room opening this summer. We can’t wait!