Closson Chase Vineyards: winery information
Winemaker: Deborah Paskus
Viticulturist Deborah Paskus grew up in Hamilton, Ontario — just a stone’s throw from Canada’s largest grape growing region on the Niagara Peninsula. In Deborah’s case, proximity to the vines meant affinity for the vines — a passion that led her to become one of Canada’s most celebrated winemakers.
Deborah was quick to develop ideas of her own, refusing to be limited by accepted boundaries. After majoring in horticulture at the University of Guelph, she was determined to make her own contribution to winemaking tradition. Her greatest challenge came when she set out to prove to Steve Temkin, noted Toronto wine columnist and creator of the wine list for Toronto’s world-class Scaramouche restaurant, that it was indeed possible to produce an intense, layered Chardonnay in Ontario.
The result was the Temkin Pasus Chardonnay: born in 1991 from a 10-year old site on the Beamsville Bench in Niagara in the cooperative winery Thirteenth Street. It was this wine that earned her the description ‘iconoclast’ from Gord Stimmel, the Toronto Star’s wine critic.
Annual Production: 560 cases
Futures
2005 Pinot Noir
Ready for release in May 2007. We are now taking Pre-Orders for this wine which is in short supply. We are capping the orders at 6 bottles per customer.
2006 "Sans Chene" Chardonnay
Ready for release in June 2007. This year our "Sans Chene" will be made with 100% county grapes and will be in limited supply.
2005 Barrel Aged Chardonnay
Anticipated release in July 2007, however, we will still have our 2004 vintage available when we open for the 2007 season on Victoria Day weekend.
32 acres planted with 11 currently producing.
Grape Varieties Planted