When the Kirbys and McKennas met for the first time, they quickly realized they shared a great passion for Pinot Noir, the project to develop Escarpment was born. Collectively all four directors bring to Escarpment a world of experience, skill and understanding about the nurture of an exceptional site and the creation of sublime Pinot wines. After twenty one years of viticulture in Martinborough, Larry McKenna defines New Zealand Pinot Noir through an assemblage of exceptional sites growing some of the oldest vines in the region.

Inspired by the great growths of Burgundy, Escarpment fashions its marvelous range of Pinot Noir to old world style as influenced by Martinborough's unique terroir. A blend of superior clones UCD 5, 6 and 13, from vines planted to deep alluvial gravel soils at Gill Cleland's Vineyard on Cambridge Road in 1989. Kiwa is open top fermented in traditional wooden cuvees, hand plunged twice daily over the course of three weeks. Batches are pressed into a selection of new and seasoned French oak barriques for eighteen months, bottled after a minimum of egg whites fining to protect the flavours, to aid brightness in the glass and promote a soft mouthfeel texture.