Norm McKibben

Managing Partner

Norm McKibben didn’t want to retire, so after a career in construction engineering, he moved to Walla Walla, Washington and became an apple farmer.

However, soon thereafter, he realized the great potential that Walla Walla had for growing quality wine grapes and decided to start a vineyard. In 1989, Norm and his wife, Virginia, planted their first vines with the help of their son, Shane. 

Then in 1991, they began planting Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot on land adjoining their high-density plantings of exotic apples. This was the beginning of Pepper Bridge Vineyard.

Along the way, he found himself drawn to the budding wine industry.  He served key roles at both Canoe Ridge and Hogue while continuing to farm grapes.

Over the next several years, Norm worked closely with Leonetti Cellars, Woodward Canyon, L'Ecole N° 41 and Andrew Will wineries to improve farming procedures and trellising on the 191-acre Pepper Bridge Vineyard. In 1994 Norm purchased Seven Hills Vineyard on the southern edge of the Walla Walla Valley Appellation. When he told Gary Figgins at Leonetti and Marty Clubb at L'Ecole N° 41 of his plans to expand Seven Hills Vineyard, they said they would like to join him as partners. The partnership expanded Seven Hills Vineyard to almost 200 acres.

In 1997, after seeing the excellent wines made with grapes from his vineyards, Norm decided to leave his involvement as partner and director at both The Hogue Cellars and Canoe Ridge Vineyards to start his own winery.  Pepper Bridge winery’s first vintage was in 1998.   

Norm is currently managing partner and/or consultant for more than 600 acres of the top vineyard sites in Walla Walla (Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, and Les Collines), and he has introduced state-of-the-art irrigation systems, soil moisture/temperature monitoring equipment, and sustainable farming techniques.  

All three vineyards are certified sustainable by VINEA (The Walla Walla Valley’s Sustainable Trust) and LIVE (Oregon’s sustainable viticulture organization).  They are also certified Salmon Safe and are monitored by the IOBC (the international body that sets sustainability standards).

Indeed, Norm is a champion of sustainable viticulture, also being a partner in Quality Compost LLC, which produces an excess of 8,000 cubic yards of compost each year.  This compost is used in vineyards across the Walla Walla Valley, virtually eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers in the Valley.

He was appointed to the Washington Wine Commission in 1997 and served as Chair from 1998 until he retired in 2001. The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers also honored him as "Grape Grower of the Year" in 1998.