Pacific Rim Winemakers

Pacific Rim Winemakers was established in 1992 by Randall Grahm, a California winemaker also associated with Bonny Doon Vineyard. Although its founder came from California, Pacific Rim was built as a Washington winery, with its facility located in West Richland in the Tri-Cities area of Eastern Washington. The location placed the business near the Columbia Valley, a major source of Washington grapes and an important region for cool-climate and aromatic wine styles. From its early development, Pacific Rim differentiated itself through a strong concentration on Riesling. Rather than treating the grape as one white-wine option among many, the winery made it the center of its business and identity. It became known as the only large winery in the United States devoted almost exclusively to Riesling. The emphasis supported a broad range of sweetness levels, including dry, off-dry, and dessert styles, and helped communicate that Riesling could occupy multiple positions at the table and across the premium-wine spectrum. The winery's portfolio eventually included eleven Rieslings, with several tied to single-vineyard locations in Washington's Columbia Valley. This structure gave Pacific Rim an opportunity to compare vineyard character and winemaking approach within one grape variety. Alongside Riesling, the winery produced smaller quantities of Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, and Chenin blanc, all varieties that fit its broader focus on aromatic or distinctive white wines. Ownership later passed to the Mariani Family. The family also owns Castello Banfi in Tuscany and is associated with Banfi Vintners, an importing business based on Long Island, New York. This ownership linked Pacific Rim to a wider wine enterprise while leaving the Washington winery's specialist Riesling positioning intact. Nicolas Quillé became general manager and head winemaker for wines produced from the 2006 vintage onward. His role represents the principal documented winemaking leadership of Pacific Rim's modern period. Under this specialist model, the winery continued to organize its offer around Riesling's stylistic diversity and Washington vineyard sources. Pacific Rim also extended its educational activity beyond bottles. Its team wrote Riesling Rules, a book about Riesling made available through the winery's website. The book reinforced the brand's role as a Riesling advocate and educator, not simply a producer of a single wine line. The supplied reference material records a major later development in April 2026, when Pacific Rim filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The reported intention was to liquidate inventory by summer 2026. Because the available material does not establish whether the winery continued operating, was sold, or fully ceased trading after the filing, its present status remains uncertain.

• 2026

  Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing

  [1]Pacific Rim Winemakersen.wikipedia.org

  Pacific Rim reportedly sought Chapter 11 protection in April and planned to liquidate inventory by summer 2026.

• 2006

  Nicolas Quillé begins documented winemaking tenure

  [1]Pacific Rim Winemakersen.wikipedia.org

  Wines from the 2006 vintage onward were produced under the leadership of Nicolas Quillé, identified as general manager and head winemaker.

• 1992

  Winery founded in Washington

  [1]Pacific Rim Winemakersen.wikipedia.org

  Randall Grahm founded Pacific Rim Winemakers, establishing the business as a Washington winery with a specialist focus that would center on Riesling.

A Washington wine specialist centered on Riesling, with a portfolio designed to demonstrate the variety's range from dry to dessert styles.

• Wine

  Riesling

  Riesling is Pacific Rim's defining product category and the basis of its specialist identity. The winery has produced a large range of Rieslings spanning dry, sweeter, and dessert styles, with a portfolio reported to contain eleven Rieslings in total. Several bottlings have been associated with individual vineyard sites in Washington's Columbia Valley, allowing the brand to highlight differences in site and style within one grape variety.

• Wine

  Gewürztraminer

  Pacific Rim has produced smaller amounts of Gewürztraminer alongside its Riesling-centered range. The variety fits the winery's interest in aromatic white wines, but the supplied sources do not identify a specific flagship bottling, launch date, or current availability.

• Wine

  Grüner Veltliner

  Grüner Veltliner has appeared as a secondary Pacific Rim offering. It forms part of the winery's smaller non-Riesling production and broadens the portfolio toward distinctive aromatic white varieties. Product-level details and present availability are not established in the supplied material.

• Wine

  Chenin blanc

  Chenin blanc has been produced in small quantities by Pacific Rim. It is a supporting product rather than the brand's central category, which remains Riesling. The available sources do not provide a launch year, named cuvée, or confirmed current status.

• 2026

  Chapter 11 restructuring and planned inventory liquidationOther

  Background

  Reference material reports that the winery entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2026.

  Action taken

  The company reportedly sought bankruptcy protection and intended to liquidate inventory by summer 2026.

  Aftermath

  The supplied sources do not establish the final outcome for the winery, its assets, or the Pacific Rim brand.

  Source

• 2026

  Pacific Rim Winemakers files for Chapter 11 protection[1]Pacific Rim Winemakersen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  Reference material reports that Pacific Rim Winemakers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2026 and planned to liquidate inventory by summer of that year.

1. 1Pacific Rim Winemakersen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Pacific Rim Winemakers official websitepacificrimriesling.com