Closson Chase looks to its own team for the future as longtime leaders Keith Tyers and Erin MacInnis join the winery’s ownership group
Closson Chase Vineyards has announced that longtime Winemaker Keith Tyers and General Manager Erin MacInnis have joined the winery’s ownership group alongside founders Seaton McLean, Michael MacMillan, Eugene McBurney and Sonja Smits.
Rather than looking outside the business as Closson Chase plans for its future, the four founders have chosen to expand ownership from within, creating a path for two longtime members of the team to become stewards of the winery they have helped build.
The transition represents an investment in the next generation of leadership and a commitment to keeping the future of Closson Chase in the hands of people who know the winery, vineyards and community.
Tyers has been part of Closson Chase for more than two decades and has led its winemaking program since 2015. His work centres on chardonnay and pinot noir and on expressing the distinctive vineyards and vintages of Prince Edward County.
MacInnis leads the business and hospitality operations of Closson Chase, with a focus on people, guest experience, sustainable growth and the winery’s relationships within Prince Edward County and the broader Ontario wine industry. She is Past Chair of the Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association, serves on the Board of Ontario Craft Wineries and is Chair of Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario.
The expanded ownership group begins a new chapter for Closson Chase, with its founders remaining actively involved while Tyers and MacInnis take on ownership alongside their existing leadership responsibilities. Together, the six owners will guide the continued evolution of the winery while protecting the character, values and commitment to Prince Edward County that have shaped Closson Chase for more than 25 years.
Founded in 1998, Closson Chase Vineyards is one of Prince Edward County’s pioneering wineries, known for premium chardonnay and pinot noir, its iconic Purple Barn and historic church on Closson Road, and its longstanding commitment to the County and sustainable winegrowing.
