A Gastronomic Evening featuring the Wines of Croix and Venge Vineyards
April 27th, 2025 5:00 PM
ValleyBrook Country Club
Croix
Our wines start with the great privilege of access to superior vineyards throughout Sonoma County. From our estate vineyard in the heart of Russian River Valley to the Pacific Coast, we stand on the shoulders of growing giants across nearly two dozen vineyard sites within the region.
Our relationships with our growers are intensive, hands-on endeavors in organic and sustainable farming, minimal yield loads, and harvesting at peak ripeness for the location. Ultimately, our winemaking practices reflect our efforts in the vineyard where minimal interference winemaking practices allow the wines to be made as naturally as possible before moving to final barrel aging and bottling.
Executive Chef Stephen Varela
Born and raised in El Paso, TX. Chef Stephen Varela moved to Pittsburgh 22 years ago. With over 24 years of culinary experience, Stephen's culinary journey began humbly at a small Mexican restaurant in El Paso, Texas, where his passion for the craft ignited.
His formal training at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh cemented his foundation in French techniques and opened his eyes to the vast world of culinary possibilities. After moving to Pittsburgh, Stephen began his country club career at Chartiers Country Club, under the guidance of Chef Shawn Culp.
His career continued at Fox Chapel Golf Club, where he developed his leadership and culinary vision before joining Valley Brook Country Club over seven years ago. Stephen's culinary philosophy revolves around creating technically sound dishes that offer a great dining experience. He is committed to continuous learning, focusing on technique and exploring seasonal and global flavors as evidenced by his work with local purveyors, including Janoskis Farm and Greenhouse.
Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, Stephen is a proud member of the Chaine de Rotisseurs and the American Culinary Federation's Pittsburgh chapter. He also contributes as a Culinary Advisor at Parkway West Career and Technology Center, sharing his expertise with the next generation of chefs. When not in the kitchen, Stephen enjoys spending time with his wife and children, bowling, reading, and relaxing with his three dogs.
As Valley Brook Country Club undergoes an exciting clubhouse renovation, including the a la carte kitchen and a new demonstration kitchen, Stephen looks forward to elevating the member experience through interactive and educational culinary experiences.
Venge Vineyards
The Venge (ven-ghee) family has farmed vitis vinifera varieties in Napa Valley for nearly half a century. It is a journey that began when Knud Venge emigrated from Denmark to the United States in the early 1900’s. Knud’s son, Per Venge, found his passion in the wine and spirits industry and started Vencom Imports, focusing on the importation of Western European fine wines and spirits. It was Per’s son, Nils Venge, who left the family business in the 1960’s with a vision to study viticulture at UC Davis and establish the family name as an icon in the winegrowing community.
The family’s viticultural roots flourished in 1976 with the purchase of a 17-acre vineyard in the Oakville District that was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This fortunate development cast the family among the winemaking pioneers of Napa Valley.
Nils’ and Dianna Venge’s son, Kirk Venge, gravitated to winemaking at an early age. He proved to be as talented a winemaker as his father, making wines in his own style, with a vision to build on the family legacy. In 2008, Kirk achieved his lifelong dream and acquired full ownership of Venge Vineyards. Today, Kirk continues the Napa Valley heritage, focusing on select vineyard sites that produce fruit worthy of bearing the Venge family name.