The Story of Valeri Bure: From NHL Ice to Wine Country

A Moscow Beginning and a Date to Remember

Valeri Vladimirovich Bure was born on June 13, 1974 in Moscow, in what was then the Soviet Union. Summer in Moscow marked not just another birthday, but the start of a journey that would see him grow from a promising young Russian skater to a global name in hockey and beyond. His birthday — June 13 — is a small but telling footnote to a life shaped by ambition, transitions across continents, and reinvention.

His story pivoted in 1994, when fate — in the form of a charity hockey game in Los Angeles — introduced him to actress Candace Cameron Bure. Their connection was instant. Two years later, on June 22, 1996, they married. That union, born out of a blend of Hollywood and hockey, would become a cornerstone of Valeri’s life beyond the rink.

Rising Through the Ranks: A Journey Across Leagues

Valeri’s path to the big leagues began when he left Moscow and joined the junior ranks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Spokane Chiefs — becoming the first Russian ever to play in the league. That leap to North America signaled his commitment: he was chasing more than a career — he was chasing legacy.

In 1992 he was selected 33rd overall in the NHL draft by the Montreal Canadiens. True to form, Valeri worked his way up, and by 1995 he made his NHL debut. Over the next decade, he donned the jerseys of top clubs — the Canadiens, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Dallas Stars — navigating the ups and downs of professional sport with grit and skill.

Valeri’s finest on-ice hours came in the 1999–2000 season with the Flames, when he led the team with 35 goals and 75 points. On that same night at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, he shared the ice with his older brother — a symbolic moment that celebrated not only his individual rise but the journey of a family of athletes.

Transitioning from Ice to Entrepreneurship

A decade in the NHL amassed Valeri significant earnings, but it was his life off the ice that revealed another chapter. Injuries to his back and hips eventually hampered his ability to continue playing — and in 2005 he retired from professional hockey.

Retirement, however, did not mean “fade away.” Instead, Valeri turned a long-held passion into a new identity: winemaker. Partnering with his wife Candace, and alongside friend Joshua Peeples, he launched Bure Family Wines, a boutique winery based in Napa Valley, California. Their wines are crafted with care, often by hand, honoring Valeri’s great-grandfather’s legacy as a watchmaker to the Russian Tsar — the winery’s emblem is a reimagined version of the family seal.

In Valeri’s own words, the transition offered a different kind of fulfillment: “starting from the vineyard and putting it into a bottle” felt like the next big adventure.

A Family Built on Faith, Love, and Resilience

Valeri and Candace’s story is not just about sports or wine — it's about family. The couple welcomed three children: daughter Natasha Bure (born 1998), and sons Lev Bure (born 2000) and Maksim Bure (born 2002).  Over the years, they have spoken openly about the challenges — and the rewards — of balancing demanding careers, public scrutiny, and parental responsibilities. In recent years, Candace has reflected publicly on “marital valleys,” moments of doubt that ultimately strengthened their bond.

Their shared faith has been a guiding force. According to Candace, Christianity provides the framework that helps them navigate life’s highs and lows — grounding their relationship no matter the spotlight or pressure. Together they have built not just a business or a household, but a foundation based on faith, partnership, and shared dreams.

Figuring Net Worth — From Skates to Vines

Multiple publicly available estimates place Valeri Bure’s net worth at around US$14 million. That figure reflects his earnings as a ten-season NHL veteran, the value of co-owned businesses like Bure Family Wines, and other investments and assets accumulated over decades.

Some sources are more conservative, listing values closer to US$10 million.The variance underscores a common theme in celebrity and athlete net worth reporting: the mix of on-record contracts, private investments, and intangible factors such as brand value or future earning potential.

Whether 10 or 14 million, the net worth speaks to a life that has successfully bridged professional sports, family enterprise, and cultural crossover — from Russian ice rinks to California vineyards.

Legacy of Reinvention — More Than Just a Hockey Player

Valeri Bure’s narrative — from a young Moscow-born skater to a respected NHL forward, and then a boutique winemaker and family man — embodies reinvention and resilience. His decision to retire, not at the top of his game, but when his body and family demanded a new path, shows a level of self-awareness rare in celebrity sports lore.

His transition into entrepreneurship, with a nod to family heritage (the reworked imperial seal on wine bottles), reveals someone deeply conscious of legacy — not just in trophies or stats, but in craft, identity, and continuity. The story of Bure Family Wines is not simply a sideline hustle; it’s a genuine second act. 

Today, Valeri stands as a figure whose life encompasses high-stakes professional sport, cross-continental migrations, creative reinvention, and a grounded commitment to family. His journey illustrates that sometimes the final buzzer on the ice is merely the opening note of a new story.