Our Team

LARRY MCKENNA

ESCARPMENT WINERY FOUNDER, RETIRED

After 23 years, our Prince of Pinot (as he’s often referred to) Larry McKenna retired. It was an end of era — not just for us but for the NZ wine industry. This stalwart and champion of NZ wine leaves a legacy we can all be proud of. Larry is handing the baton to our determined and invigorated team, Rowan Hoskins and Tim Bourne, who desire to continue with Larry’s vision, making the most premium Pinot Noir and taking it to the world.

We know Larry will continue to share his vast knowledge and experience with the wine community but for now we wish him a most well-deserved and happy retirement.

TIM BOURNE

SENIOR WINEMAKER

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Initially graduating with a BSc, majoring in Geography, Tim spent a few years working and travelling and not knowing what he wanted to do. After returning from OE in the UK, he fell on his feet with his first vintage in Marlborough, and caught the wine bug. He then went back to study a post-graduate diploma in Oenology through EIT in the Hawke’s Bay.

Short stints in Central Otago and Waipara, along with a vintage in The Great Southern Region in Western Australia, lead Tim to the Barossa Valley. After working in the Barossa for nearly 7 years, Tim once again returning to Marlborough. eventually taking up the opportunity to work with Larry and the fantastic Escarpment wines.

Tim has worked as an Associate Judge in a number of Australian and New Zealand wineshows and was the dux of the AWRI Advanced Wine Assessment Course in 2015.

Outside of work, he and his wife Lacey have 3 fantastic children Eamon, Campbell and Xanthe. With spare time dedicated to them, along with exploring the wonderful world of wine (and gin!!)

Rowan Hoskins, vineyard manager of Escarpment Vineyard in the Kupe Block

ROWAN HOSKINS

VITICULTURIST

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Rowans interest in viticulture and wine started at a young age as he grew up in and around vineyards in Martinborough, due to his father being Martinborough vineyards viticulturist at the time. After becoming an electrician in Gisborne then working in the Hawkes Bay and back to the Wairarapa, he decided to take the plunge and follow his passion in the wine industry. Nick Hoskins was starting up Vine Managers at the time, so he decided to take a job in 2006 and work in the vines. This cemented his passion for the industry and led him to complete a level 4 advanced viticulture whilst running Redbank Estate under the guidance of Nick. Rowan went on to manage Cobblestones (which is now our Pahi single vineyard), and Schubert vineyard before managing Escarpment under Vine managers. In 2015 he started to transition Escarpment vineyards to organics, we now have 25Ha certified. In 2019 rowan became fulltime vineyard manager with Escarpment looking to elevate and expand the Biogro certified vineyards.

Outside of work Rowan and his wife Brooke have 4 kid’s Ruby, Indigo, Rowan and Bodhi. Is a keen surfer and mountain bike rider loves the outdoors and sharing it with his family.

ANDREA CANNING

OFFICE MANAGER

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Andrea joined Escarpment in August 2017 having worked in office administration and customer service roles for 25 years.

While she is an amateur but enthusiastic ‘taster of wine’ she is looking forward to furthering her knowledge working alongside the team at Escarpment. She loves the lifestyle Martinborough offers and enjoys spending her time with her husband and family, and is an avid sports fan – in particular Football (that’s the round ball).

Andrea is your first point of contact and looks after all the day-to-day administration, sales and logistics for Escarpment Vineyard.

Rob, the Escarpment Vineyard worker, in the Kupe Block

ROB JASIONOWICZ

VINEYARD OPERATOR

Born and bred in the Hutt Valley, Rob developed a passion and love for fine wine while working in the luxury hospitality sector at several of London’s premier hotels and restaurants as a fine dining head waiter. Rob worked to expand his knowledge about wine and winegrowing as he served from exceptional lists featuring a selection of the finest wines from both the old and new world, with a particular focus on French regions.

Taking the plunge and heading to Martinborough, a region Rob thinks is one of the most exciting spots in the world for winegrowing, he started his viticulture journey joining Te Kairanga as part of their 2019 winter pruning crew and Escarpment since the 19’ growing season.

Rob is currently undertaking a Graduates Diploma in Viticulture at EIT and is devoted and eager to learn as much as possible about organic, sustainable viticulture and the science behind growing the best grapes possible that reflect our unique terroir in the glass.

LEEANN O'NEILL

MARKETING & EXPORT ASSISTANT

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Leeann has worked in the tourism sector in the Wairarapa for many years, bringing a wealth of tourism experience. She is using this to assist in the development of the Escarpment Cellar Door at Peppers Parehua and with the promotion of the Escarpment wine range, as the winery heads into new overseas markets.

Leeann assists Andrea with office administration, export sales and documentation, along with social media. She is excited to be working alongside Larry and the Escarpment team learning as much as she can about wine.

She was born in the Wairarapa, and after having two children in Australia, headed home in 2004, before adding a third. She has enjoyed watching the area grow as a destination for both visitors and Wellingtonians making the Wairarapa their home or weekend playground.

Hilary Forster, The Escarpment Vineyard Tractor Driver with Fendt Tractor

HILARY FORSTER

OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR

Born and raised in the Waikato, Hilary moved down to the Wairarapa in 2018. She spent two years working as a tractor operator at Matahiwi Estate, outside of Masterton, before joining the Escarpment team at the beginning of the 2020 - 2021 growing season. In her spare time, Hillary is outdoors exploring the country, playing squash and spending time with her vineyard dog, Asher.

KATIE CAMERON

TECHNICAL ASSISTANT

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Katie began her wine career at Lincoln University, undertaking a bachelor of Viticulture and Enology. After catching the travelling-harvest bug, she interned in Central Otago, Hawkes Bay, California and Tuscany before accepting a scholarship to study a Master of Viticulture and Oenology based in France, then Italy.

It wasn't long after finishing the Masters and a few extra months travelling that Katie felt the draw to return to New Zealand and put down some roots. Her first harvest at Escarpment in 2020, cemented her love for the NZ wine industry and in particular the Wairarapa wine region.

You'll often meet Katie's friendly face at our cellar door. Between tastings, she will be busy helping out in the winery, marketing and vineyard.