Laurent Violet, Owner & Husband

Laurent has spent his entire life in the wine industry – from grape planting to bottling. He discovered he’s truly passionate about mead (or honey wine) and making sure you have a good time while you drink it! With the help of his wife, Ve Oh Lay Acres was born!
Coming from a welding/fabricating background, he’s had his fair share of creation in the cellar and he’s always on to another project. It’s his craftsmanship that’s individually shaped this project into what it is.

Laurent Violet can be contacted at laurent@veohlayacres.ca.

Maddison Violet, Owner & Wife

Starting in the wine industry in just 2016 with her first WSET course, she soon found the tasting room of Chaberton Estate Winery. After travelling to New Zealand and Australia making wine, in 2019 she was awarded IWSC & WSET Future 50 Under 40. Coming back to Canada to work another harvest at Chaberton, this is where she met Laurent where they bonded over their love of wine (and sarcasm). She believes that wine should be fun and approachable, not stuffy and pretentious. Her goal is to make wines that beginners can appreciate, but that experts will still love.

Maddison Violet can be contacted at winemaker@veohlayacres.ca.

Olive, General Manager

Olive’s a natural fit for the job. She serves a no bullshit kind of attitude and certainly can’t be sweet talked into anything. She’s here to oink this place straight (perhaps her future campaign slogan when she runs for office) and runs a tight farmyard.

As a dependable general manager, she knows how to handle any situation that comes up from customer complaints through to closing down for winter break. She’s phenomenal at paperwork and always bring high energy into the workplace.

Olive can be contacted at olive@veohlayacres.ca.

Lemon Beret, Social Media Manager

Lemon is as unhinged and unpredictable as she appears. This makes her perfect for the perilous job of social media manager. She’s witty, never without her beret and most likely to reheat her tuna sandwhich in the work microwave and be obnoxious about it.

Social awareness? Absolutley not. Social pariah? You betcha.

The world needs more personalities like hers. You can always find her in the pool or the nearest mud puddle.

Lemon Beret can be contacted at lemon@veohlayacres.ca.

Patrick Blandin, Gardener

The hidden gem in all of the BC Wine Industry – Patrick is a long-time friend, winery consultant and exceptional gardener. Patrick has been along from the very start with Ve Oh Lay Acres from site selection, vineyard planting and nights of brainstorming only found in the bottom of a few wine bottles.

Patrick Blandin studied wine tasting at the EPMTTH of Paris, among the best sommeliers of Paris and the world such as Alain Gianotti, Philippe Faure-Brac, and Olivier Poussier. He’s worked from Bordeaux down to Australia, China, Turkey & all over the world. Graduating with several diplomas in viticulture, oenology and quality control, he perfected his training by obtaining his Master of Oenology in Burgundy. He’s now settled in BC with his Canadian division of Evo’s Consulting.