Escarpment

Larry McKenna was the first formally trained winemaker to arrive in Martinborough.  Having tried early releases from the young vines he was impressed with what had been achieved by the novice winemakers.  With passion, skill and vision Larry set the benchmark for high quality Pinot Noir as winemaker at Martinborough Vineyard.

Moving on from Martinborough Vineyard and the Martinborough Terraces, Larry & Sue McKenna along with Australian partners set up Escarpment in the early 1990’s.  Located on Te Muna road, situated just five kilometres from Martinborough, the vineyard of 24 hectares sits on a plateau above the Huangarua river on some of the most ancient and dry soils in New Zealand’s North Island. Its a special place and like many great wine zones sits on the verge of perilously challenging and magnificence when it comes to viticulture. 

Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir form the varietal range. But it is the ‘Insight Series’ at the ultra premium end of the spectrum that draws the praise of wine aficionados.  These three single vineyard wines come from select sites on the Martinborough Terrace and are some of the oldest vineyards  Larry has worked with since his arrival in Martinborough.  Only made on select vintages, there is nothing better than to line up these three for a lesson in terroir.  Finishing off the range is the Kupe single vineyard wine from the Escarpment vineyard on Te Muna Road. Viticulture is based on high density planting  on a very low canopy to embrace the heat radiating from the stony soils. This is the apogee of wines in the Insight range and a statement to the current capabilities and future for the Te Muna Road district. 

Larry manages a team dedicated to cool climate grape growing and applies a masters touch in the winery helping to create these generous and rewarding wines that are already a bold statement for Martinborough, Te Muna & New Zealand.