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Willful Wine Company 2018 Jezebel Blanc
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 and getting her hands dirty gave Pam the hands-on training she needed – and a passion for making wine. But before long, they split — and she bought out his interest in the vineyard. But then, tragedy struck, and he passed away.
A single mom, Pam sold the vines and moved the winemaking operation to Portland to be close to her sons, Cato and Samson. “I really miss my vines,” Walden told Wine Press NW. “That’s really my happy place, but I had to give it up and spend that time being the best mom I can be. I’ve got basketball games to take kids to, and I’d rather be doing that on the weekend.”
This is more than a story of perseverance through tragedy. Today, Pam’s hard work and passion has made her an award-winning winemaker in her own right. Willful wine, indeed!
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Willful Wine Company, Portland, Oregon
2018 Jezebel Blanc
In France, Alsace is a small region (about the size of Oregon’s upper coast) tucked into the northeast corner on the German border. The three most common wine varietals are typically known as German wines, but are produced in a distinctive style on the French side.
These Alsatian grapes -- Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling – come together in Pam Walden’s Jezebel Blanc as a crisp, aromatic white wine with just a hint of sweetness. All of the grapes are co-fermented in a stainless steel tank and left on the lees for a gorgeous mouthfeel.
This juicy, white has wonderful floral, spicy aromatics and tropical fruit flavors. As Willful’s sassy younger sister, the Jezebel line is designed to drink right away – so open it up on a warm spring/summer day or with spicy Asian food!
40% Pinot Gris, 36% Gewürztraminer, 19% Riesling, and 5% Melon de Bourgogne.
A Cellar 503 selection in May 2019, Women Winemakers Oregon | Gewürztraminer, Melon de Bourgogne, Pinot Gris, Riesling
