Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm exterior

Image Credit: Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm

Summerland's Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm is crafting exciting new wine varietals with a twist—they are alcohol free.

Beautiful British Columbia is well known for world-class wines, but a local grassroots winery in Summerland is bringing something new to the tasting room: Delicious alcohol free wines.

Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm is a relatively new addition to the South Okanagan wine scene, but it is already turning heads with its award-winning wines. The dynamic duo's sophisticated yet sassy varietals, such as Street Fighter Pinot-Chardonnay (Gold at the All Canadian Wine Championships) and the refined 1064 (Bronze at the Wine Align Awards), are two such traditional examples. So, why the leap into alcohol-free wines? We recently met up with Ve Oh Lay Acres owner and winemaker to find out.

Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm alcohol-free wine

Image Credit: Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm

A Rich History of Winemaking Meets Storybook Romance

Laurent and Maddi Violet are the driving force behind Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm, and theirs is a made-in-Canada romance that joined two well-respected wine experts, simultaneously influencing the creation of a South Okanagan treasure. While Laurent and Maddi each boast award-winning skill sets, they tend to stick to their favourite areas: Maddi heads up the winemaking, while Laurent's primary focus is as the estate cellar master.

Laurent brings over a century of family winemaking experience to the Ve Oh Lay Acres cellar, with the Violet family proudly tracing their roots back to the winemaking scene of 1860’s France. The family's passion for vinification resulted in six generations of winemakers, a lineage spanning from Europe to South America and, eventually, North America.

Laurent's talents for creating wines, spirits, and everything in between paired perfectly with Maddi's globe-trotting resume in winemaking, and the resulting partnership led to the continuation of the Violet family's proud legacy—right here in the Okanagan.

Sip Smart: The Joy of Alcohol-Free Wines

In 2019, while working in Australia, Maddison’s dedication to the wine industry earned her one of the highest honours for young professionals in the field—the IWSC Future 50 Under 40 award for wine. Selected from over 600 nominations across 14 countries, she stood out as a rising star in the world of winemaking, and, notably, she was the only Canadian to receive the award in the wine category.

Maddi draws on this experience from top vineyards throughout Australia, New Zealand and California to create exciting pairings—sourced from the best grapes the Okanagan has to offer. The growing conditions in southern BC are ideal for challenging Maddi’s creative side; and for showcasing her natural talents.

It is her penchant for edgy new creations that led to the creation of Ve Oh Lay Acres alcohol-free brand, Muse. According to Maddi, the goal is to give people the freedom of choice—you don’t always have to drink alcohol to enjoy wine. Muse offers the same full-bodied flavour and the benefits of a fermented product, while still fitting seamlessly into social moments.

Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm interior

Image Credit: Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm

Her inspiration to forage into alcohol-free wines came recognizing a truth many in the industry share: loving wine doesn’t always mean wanting alcohol. Surrounded by wine every day, she saw firsthand how hard it can be to balance consumption, even when you’re passionate about the craft. Muse was built for those moments—when you want the flavour, the ritual, and the experience of wine, without the compromise of alcohol. "Our wines are perfect for cozying up on the couch, while not having any guilt regarding high calories or alcohol consumption.”

While alcohol-free wines are not a new concept, there are remarkably few Canadian brands that remain true to the ancient traditions of winemaking. Ve Oh Lay Acres produces its alcohol-free wines with the same traditional fermentation methods as any classic vintage.

“At their heart, our wines are still fermented grape juice, crafted with the same care as traditional wines,” Maddi explains. That is important, since the fermenting process offers benefits beyond just flavour. While many non-alcoholic wines can be just juice-flavoured creations that resemble wine, the Muse wines Maddi is creating offer all the health benefits of fermented grapes—but with a fraction of the calories and alcohol.

No matter the reason for uncorking a bottle of wine, the Muse lineup of alcohol-free wines has something for you. Planning a girls' night, celebration, or just a charcuterie meet-up with friends? No problem. The non-alcoholic Muse Rosé offers a light and fruity profile, while the Muse Merlot boasts a flavour-forward, robust profile.

The Future of Wine Is Refreshingly Alcohol-Free

The vibrant alcohol-free blends offered by this pioneering winery are making it easier than ever to raise a glass to wellness, friendship, and fun. Whether you're toasting milestones or simply enjoying a sunny afternoon, these wines let you savour the moment with a delicious, locally crafted wine without worrying about the alcohol. "I feel safe in saying that we have Canada's best tasting non-alcoholic wines," Maddi reports. It is a bold statement, but not one made lightly—after all, she has the world-class grapes of the Okanagan Valley to pull from, and the broad-reaching talents of Laurent's cellar mastery to back her up.

To sample the Muse lineup of non-alcoholic wines, swing by Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery & Farm tasting room. Or, if you are looking for a grab-and-go option, Maddi and Laurent have strategically located the Muse wines right across Canada. Here in BC, you can find the Ve Oh Lay Acres wines everywhere from Penticton's Walmart to the province's top wine merchants.

If you are interested in learning more about the wizardry that Ve Oh Lay Acres employs to create the fabulous Muse wines, or locations near you to grab a bottle, check out the dynamic duo's social media threads on Instagram and Facebook, including an Instagram site dedicated exclusively to the Muse Collection. 

Contact info: (778) 548 - 3936, info@veohlayacres.ca

Address: 5616 Simpson Road, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z2

"Wine is better with friends—and Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery is a great place to meet new friends." -Maddison Violet.

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