Sean O’Keefe was raised in a winemaking family on Old Mission Peninsula. His father,
and founder of Chateau Grand Traverse, Ed O’Keefe, planted his first vineyards in
1974. Sean studied German Literature at University of Michigan, before going to
Germany to study wine making. Afterwards, he did an apprenticeship and went to
Geisenheim in Rheingau. Featuring one of the main oenology schools, great
professors, and even more importantly great people, Geisenheim was an inspiration to
Sean, immersing him in generational wine history. He often jokingly refers to it as the
Hogwarts of Riesling.
He then returned home to launch an innovative small-batch series at his family’s winery
and make himself an international emissary for Northwest Michigan’s wine community.
Sean began consulting for Mari Vineyards in 2009. As Sean began deciding what types
of future wine he was interested in creating, he realized Marty Lagina’s vision aligned
with his in many ways, and he decided to come on as Mari’s Winemaker in 2015.
While Sean specializes in many of the varieties he grew up with — Riesling, Gamay
Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Grüner Veltliner, he also works with Italian varieties the Lagina’s
have planted, such as Malvasia Bianca, Nebbiolo, and Schioppettino. Curious about
textural qualities in wine and always experimenting, Sean also makes skin-contact
whites inspired by Georgian techniques and more recently began creating wine ciders.
Mari’s portfolio is a reflection of both the Lagina family legacy and Sean’s winemaking
journey.