Sharp Minds, Loose Talks With Willful Wine Company

Pam, the creator of Willful Wine.

At Acme Wine Company, we believe every bottle has a story—and sometimes, if you’re lucky, you get to hear that story firsthand. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Pam Walden, the founder and winemaker behind Willful Wine, whose journey into winemaking is as heartfelt and inspiring as the wines she crafts.

Pam’s story begins in an unexpected place: a remote farmhouse restaurant in the

Dordogne region of France, where she was working as a waitress after a series of

adventurous pivots—including playing piano in the Channel Islands and a stint in the London film industry. It was 1996, and fate walked in the door in the form of Aron Hess, a charismatic young American in search of a six-course tasting menu. Their first date was in Bordeaux; their second, in Paris. The rest, as they say, is history.

That spark turned into a shared dream. A year later, Pam and Aron were in Oregon, exploring the Willamette Valley, determined to find a way to make wine together. Starting a winery without a substantial investment seemed like a pipe dream, but local wineries who followed their passion and started small made them realize that anything is possible. In 2000, they bought their first ton and a half of Pinot Noir grapes and produced their very first vintage—just 97 cases. Thus, Daedalus Cellars was born.

Over the years, they grew their operation steadily. In 2008, they planted the first vines on their Dundee Hills property. But in 2009, Pam and Aron divorced, and by 2011, Pam had taken over the winemaking herself, launching a new chapter with the creation of Willful Wine with the harvest of the first crop from the estate vines.

The name couldn’t be more fitting. “Willful” captures both Pam’s determination and the notoriously temperamental nature of Pinot Noir. While she had assisted with harvests over the years, stepping fully into the winemaker’s role required resilience and grit. She immersed herself in enology courses at Chemeketa Community College while applying her lessons hands-on in the cellar—a true trial by fire. In another testament to Pam’s willful nature, the loss of Aron in 2013 led her to shift her focus to her two sons, while still following her dreams. She relocated Willful Wine to Portland, where it evolved into a thriving urban winery.

Today, Willful Wine produces about 7,000 cases annually under the Willful and Jezebel labels. Pam sources fruit from some of the finest vineyards in the Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley, and Walla Walla. Her philosophy centers around low-intervention

techniques, whole cluster fermentation, and native yeasts, letting the grapes—and their origin—speak for themselves.

In May 2023, Willful Wine added a beautiful new home base: a wine bar and restaurant at The Grant House in Vancouver, Washington. Built in 1850, this historic building offers the perfect setting to enjoy Pam’s wines, with a wraparound porch overlooking Fort Vancouver Park. Now with a new chef and full back of house team, Pam is proud to serve dishes with high quality ingredients from local vendors.

Meeting Pam was not just a chance to learn about her wines—it was a reminder of the heart, resilience, and humanity behind every label. Her journey is one of passion, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the magic of wine to bring people together. We’re honored to share her story, and even more excited to share her wines with you. Cheers to Pam, to Willful Wine, and to every willful heart that follows its path—no matter where it leads.