(Image credit: Pacific Rim & Co.)

First released by Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyard in 1992, Pacific Rim Dry Riesling quickly gained a loyal following among Riesling lovers. Known for its fresh and bright characteristics, the wine was a welcome alternative to over-oaked, one-dimensional white wines. As the American palate evolved in recent years toward wines with greater complexity and crisper acidity, the popularity of Pacific Rim Dry Riesling grew.

Demand and enthusiasm for Pacific Rim Dry Riesling continued to gain momentum and the excitement around the wine inspired a radical idea the creation of a winery exclusively dedicated to Riesling. In August of 2006, a small band of Bonny Doon ex-pats moved to the Northwest from California with a common desire to craft the best Riesling in America. Thus, Pacific Rim became its own winery.
At Pacific Rim, they are passionate about Riesling (in fact, nearly 90% of Pacific Rim’s production is Riesling wines); they are passionate about crafting world-class Riesling, and they are passionate about extolling the wondrous virtues of Riesling. 

Vineyard

Pacific Rim is obsessed with Riesling  and we have multiple styles to choose from. From dry and lean, to sparkling, to light and slightly sweet to dessert, we believe there is a Riesling for everything. We are committed to sustainability to keep the state of Washington beautiful.

The vineyards are in the Yakima and Horse Heaven Hills AVAs within the larger Columbia Valley AVA of Washington State. The soils have been shaped by the incredible Missoula Floods and are primarily wind-blown loess on basalt bedrock; this is a poor, minerally-driven terroir perfect to produce a Riesling with complexity and concentration.

They believe in low input winemaking and use sustainable techniques in the vineyard and at the winery. They ban the use of excessive watering, use the grape’s native yeasts for fermentation, and use low sulfites.

Award-Winning Wines

Pacific Rim & Co have won many awards for their delightful wines including the Sommeliers Choice Awards 2020. This time winning 4 Gold medals for their wines: 2015 Thick Skinned Red Mountain with 95 points, 2018 Pacific Rim Gewurztraminer with 93 points, 2018 Pacific Rim Gruner Veltliner with 92 points, and 2018 Pacific Rim Wallula Vineyard Riesling with 91 points. Check out their other winning wines here.

2015 Thick Skinned Red Mountain

Standing apart from the surrounding hills, Red Mountain’s southwest-facing slopes encourage the grapes to ripen and develop their deep, dark skin color. It is during the fermentation process that these thick, sun-ripened skins reveal the distinctly lush textures and flavors locked inside. A Bordeaux style blend of bold character, Thick Skinned represents everything that Red Mountain has to offer.

Separate handpicked lots from Kiona’s “Heart of the Hill” vineyard are fermented in 3-5 ton fermenters. Each varietal is barrel-aged in 50% new French oak for 6 months prior to blending. The wine is then returned to the barrel for an additional 12 months of barrel aging. After bottling the wine is given a minimum of 12 months bottle age before release.

Bright cherry followed by chocolate with hints of caramel and toast. Firm mouth-filling tannins coat the palate.

2018 Pacific Rim Gruner Veltliner

Meet the newest varietal to add to the Pacific Rim family of wines! The Grüner Veltliner is sourced from the cool Yakima Valley at their Spring Creek Vineyard. The grapes are picked at 22.5 Brix and fermented with native yeasts at cold temperatures. The wine is then aged on lees in old German wood casks and the lees are stirred for 6 months. The wine is bone dry and very refreshing.

2018 Pacific Rim Wallula Vineyard Riesling

Wallula vineyard sits at 1,100 feet of elevation, 700 feet above the Columbia River. This is a warmer site with deep sandy wind-blown soils and high winds. The resulting grapes are intense in flavors yet they retain great acidity making this site perfect for off-dry styles.

 This wine is pale straw with a bouquet of jasmine. This single-vineyard Riesling is crisp with flavors of citrus, white peach, and minerals.

Online Order: Distributors or wine buyers can contact pacriminfo@banfi.com or reach out to the team on tel:5038635459.