THE DRIVING FORCE
Winemaking is in the blood of Croix Proprietor and Winemaker, Kirk Venge, one of today’s premiere vintners with a family lineage of winemaking excellence.
When I was growing up, working in the vineyard and winery gave me a wonderful sense of partnership in my family’s way of life; it was demanding, hard work, and I loved it.”
Born in 1976 and raised in Rutherford, Napa Valley, Kirk Venge earned his degree in Viticulture and Enology at the prestigious University of California, Davis, graduating in 1998, and quickly set his sights on buying the Venge brand and winery from his family. From this foothold he would seek to cross the Mayacamas divide and set roots in Sonoma County, where his mother was born.
He kept a name in his back pocket, Croix, while he established himself as an astute and acclaimed winemaker. “I loved the name and its history established in Burgundy. It perfectly represented my desire to establish my winemaking expertise beyond Napa Valley. To embrace a path that has led me to many intersections in my trade.”
Kirk also owns his namesake vineyard and winery, Venge Vineyards, and is consulting winemaker for several, prominent micro-producers in Napa Valley.
It was in the winter of 2010, during a blind tasting of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from multiple, global wine regions, that a pursuit became obvious and clear for Croix: How do we enter the crowded space of highly talented, luxury Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers and consistently produce wines that will make a lasting impression? Furthermore, how do we make Pinot Noir that will age beyond a decade’s time?
It is tempting to spin a narrative of glorious successes we have experienced from day one with producing our first experimental vintages of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to present day. However, the humble truth is this: our first Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays left more questions than answers as it related to directional purpose and long-term outputs.
Growing and producing wine bottled as Croix Estate needs to meet the highest standard of excellence if we are to be deemed worthy of participating in one of the most demanding and historic segments within our winegrowing community. Hence, the long and deliberate path we have taken from concept to this day.