Kirk Venge

Winemaker, Eleven Eleven

Kirk Venge is one of the most recognized and sought-after winemakers in Napa and Sonoma. He is the owner and winemaker of Venge Estate Vineyards and Winery and the new label, Croix Estate. He is also the Consulting Winemaker for several boutique producers throughout Napa Valley, including B Cellars, Bacio Divino Cellars and the Janzen label, Beau Vigne, Entrepreneur Wines, Hunnicutt Wines, Jax Vineyards, Macauley Vineyard, Renteria Wines and Trespass Vineyards.

Country born: United States

Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Coming from a long line of winemakers - dating back to my great grandfather, Knud, grandfather Per and father, Nils - you could say that farming and wine making is in my blood. It was with great excitement that I came across Eleven Eleven, where I can best utilize my skills and creativity. In fact, I had coveted the property and vineyards that Ellie, Carol and Aurelien were savvy enough to secure, and it was with enthusiasm that I agreed to cultivate their fruit. My winemaking focus has always been 'vineyard first,' and the Eleven Eleven vineyards are prime real estate for compelling winemaking.

Brett Weis

Winemaker, Eleven Eleven

I grew up in a small town outside of Seattle, WA and attended the University of Washington. Agriculture was not part of my upbringing, nor was it an interest of mine in college. Little did I know every time we would visit our extended family in Napa, I was being spoon-fed bits and pieces of my future in agriculture.

Out of college, I spent time traveling the world, working abroad, skiing and trying to figure out what direction life would take me. In the end, it took me to California. I ended up in Tahoe for a few winters skiing and golfing, but still did not know my calling until I got an opportunity at Groth Vineyards & Winery to work a harvest.

One harvest is all it took. I wanted to know everything about winemaking and grape growing. I enrolled in wine classes and ended up in graduate school at Oregon State, studying Enology and Viticulture. Two years later I returned to California and landed a job managing vineyards for the Antinori family up on Atlas Peak. I spent five years learning everything I could about grape growing, but I really missed the production side of things.

In 2015, I decided to jump ship and make my way back into the winery and landed with Eleven Eleven in March of 2015. I started there as the Assistant Winemaker and was promoted to Associate Winemaker in 2019.

Country born: United States

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years