Claude Violet Dies

In the Photo: Claude Violet (seated in the Winery's Bacchus Restaurant); the Domain de Chaberton EstateS Winery that he and wife Inge founded in the Fraser Valley, and the Bacchus varietal grape that he pinned his star to.


MILESTONES - (May 31, 2008)
CLAUDE VIOLET, A PIONEER OF THE FRASER VALLEY WINE INDUSTRY , HAS DIED.


Tim Pawsey has passed on to us some sad news.

"Claude Violet, the former owner of Domaine de Chaberton Estates winery has died. He was truly a pioneer, as well as being utterly charming -- a bright light in the Fraser Valley."


From the Domaine de Chaberton website:

In 1975, Claude and Inge Violet, having sold their winery and vineyard in France decided to start afresh in the New World. The pioneer spirit was not new to the Violet blood line as Claude’s family had been in the wine business since 1644. After visiting California, Ontario and the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Claude and Inge purchased the land where the present site of the Domaine de Chaberton and the Bacchus Bistro are located.

Claude quickly became known as the “Mad Frenchman” when word spread that he planned on planting wine grapes in the Fraser Valley. People within the burgeoning wine industry in British Columbia scoffed at the idea of growing wine grapes in the rain drenched Fraser Valley but the shrewd Frenchman had done his homework. After doing much research, Claude had found that the property was located in a microclimate with weather conditions much like those that exists in northern France. ... CONTINUE READING ...