Born in Dublin, Ireland, Lauren moved with her family to Canada at the age of nine. She grew up in Kingston before attending the University of Ottawa to achieve her Bachelor of Arts Degree. It was during this time that Lauren discovered a fondness of and a natural talent for the hospitality industry. She started out with catering for restaurants, and eventually became an Assistant Banquet Manager at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.
In 2003, Lauren enrolled in and graduated from Algonquin College’s Sommelier Program. This education spurred her to make wine the focal point of her professional career. Since 2004, she has been the Account Manager for both Niagara’s Cave Spring Vineyard and The Vine Agency. Her duties include representing and selling the wine portfolios of both in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario as well as hosting educational events, training staff, consulting on wine list development, and advising on personal wine collections. Along the way, Lauren has continued her wine education by achieving her WSET Advanced Level.
She has made Ottawa her home and resides with her husband, Pieter Van den Weghe, and their three children.