Kinsman Eades: When Wine is a Life Mission – Not a Business

If you have not yet encountered Kinsman Eades, you are far from alone. But that will not last long. From the vineyards of California, their wines have quickly captured the hearts of passionate wine lovers around the world. With a rare blend of wildness and finesse, Kinsman Eades has not only made a name for itself – it is established itself as a new force on the international wine scene.

Kinsman Eades is the result of an uncompromising dream and a bold decision. Nigel and Shae Kinsman left their comfortable life in Australia and traveled to Napa Valley with one ambition: to create a wine that truly means something.

They did not have much money, but they did have a strong passion for wine. After working for prestigious wineries like Araujo Estate, Nigel had the opportunity to purchase grapes from a special vineyard on Diamond Mountain in 2016. They invested all their savings, sold wine in bulk, and built the brand from the ground up. Read the full story here...

Nigel Kinsman - From Australia to Napa Valley

“There was no question Nigel was going to make his own wine in Napa Valley; it was just a matter of time. In 2016, after scraping together everything we had, we crushed our first fruit and welcomed our third child to the family. We've never been known to do anything by halves.”
- Shae Kinsman

It may have only been a matter of time before Nigel Kinsman made his own wine in Napa Valley. But Nigel didn’t grow up among vineyards. With Australia as his homeland and a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Adelaide, one might wonder if it was really always just a matter of time before Nigel Kinsman made his own wines in Napa Valley: the Californian wine capital. Before Napa Valley became his destination, Nigel had to discover his talent for winemaking.

And it happened by pure chance. During his music studies, he took a job at a shop that sold fine wine, and it quickly became clear to him that his lack of knowledge about wine was a barrier. But with help from his boss, Nigel slowly gained more and more wine knowledge, and when he completed his music degree, he enrolled in Agricultural Science, eventually graduating in 2002 with a degree in Oenology.

After his studies, Nigel worked at various wineries in Adelaide before deciding to leave Australia for a while to continue his wine journey in Tuscany. But the journey did not stop there.

According to Shae Kinsman, the couple wanted to work in a wine region that was pushing boundaries, so they began contacting their network in the wine world. Within a month, both had received job offers in Napa Valley. In their early thirties, the couple packed their bags and, despite a negative bank balance, headed to California to start fresh – with a goal to learn.

From there, they spent a decade soaking up knowledge. Nigel honed his winemaking skills, while Shae specialized in import and distribution in the U.S.

Kinsman Eades: The Dream to Create Something of Their Own

Nigel spent a few years at Araujo Estate, while Shae was involved in running David Abreu’s business. David Abreu is one of Napa Valley’s most respected vineyard managers and winemakers. He is the founder of Abreu Vineyards and has worked with some of Napa’s most prestigious wineries, including Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, and Colgin Cellars.

The couple showed great skill and flair in the industry, though, as Shae puts it, their fate was inevitable. Nigel became a sought-after winemaker, but there was no doubt that he dreamed of making wine under his own name: a dream that required strong financial backing in case of failure. And the couple did not have that.

In 2015, Nigel began working with a winemaker on Diamond Mountain, who had just taken over the former Reverie Vineyard. Nigel made wine for them that year and became deeply fascinated by the place, the wines, and the vineyard. Early in 2016, he convinced the owners to sell him a small amount of grapes from the upcoming harvest. While Shae was pregnant with their third child, the couple faced an impossible choice: Should they use their meager savings to buy a house – or bet everything on a winemaking future that could end in failure? They chose the latter. Kinsman Eades was born.

Kinsman Eades: Let Terroir Speak, and Let the Wine Stay True to Its Origins

Kinsman Eades is not afraid to make imperfect wine. Quite the opposite. When they began producing wine under their own name, they did not have the finances to buy Napa Valley’s best grapes. So, they bought grapes from unknown wineries, sought out still undiscovered gems, and made them shine, showing the world their great potential with a burning desire to create: 

“Site-driven, singular expressions of origin and history: that’s what we’re shooting for. Our winemaking is attentive, but never heavy-handed. We let the fruit lead the way, resisting the urge to polish away the most interesting edges. Because we’re not chasing perfection. We’re chasing character.”

Kinsman Eades is driven by a shared vision to create wines that authentically reflect their unique origins. Their winemaking philosophy focuses on terroir, where the wine’s origin and natural character take precedence over technical perfection. Through minimal intervention and sustainable methods, they work to bring forth wines that truly reflect the unique characteristics of their specific vineyards.

Their approach is largely based on respect for the vineyards and Mother Nature. And because Kinsman Eades quickly gained high regard in Napa Valley, today, the grapes for their wines come from some of Napa Valley’s most well-known and respected areas – with each step in production designed to preserve and highlight the natural traits of the grapes. This includes everything from handpicking the grapes to fermentation and aging in small, carefully selected oak barrels.

Kinsman Eades Counts 7 Impressive Wines

Today, Kinsman Eades’ wine portfolio includes seven different labels. A portfolio of wines that are powerful and complex, yet elegant. Each wine is an expression of the specific conditions of the vineyard – from the soil composition to the climate and the influence of the wind. Their approach has created a range of impressive wines, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah as the main players. These grapes were chosen for their ability to express terroir in an unparalleled way.

The winery has succeeded in creating a balance between the traditional Napa style, known for its rich fruit and fullness, and a more nuanced, complex expression that appeals to wine lovers seeking something special.

Rhadamanthus – Invincible Cabernet Sauvignon

Kinsman Eades’ Rhadamanthus is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Diamond Mountain District in Napa Valley, USA. The name “Rhadamanthus” comes from the ancient king, whose name is derived from the Greek word adamas, meaning invincible or untamed. The first Rhadamanthus is from the 2016 vintage. The wine has thrilled the world’s leading wine critics, and with an annual production between 100-200 cases, it is a highly limited luxury to taste.

The grapes for this wine come from the former Reverie Vineyard, located on sunny, terraced slopes at 240 meters elevation. This terroir contributes to the wine’s intense and powerful character. The label is designed by British artist Lee John Phillips.

Anjea – Fertile Single-Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Kinsman Eades' Anjea is a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville, Napa Valley. The name Anjea refers to a fertility goddess in Australian Aboriginal mythology, reflecting Nigel and Shae Kinsman’s Australian roots and their deep respect for the land. Sleeping Lady sits in the southern Napa Valley and benefits from a cooler breeze from San Pablo Bay, contributing to a longer growing season and an elegant, well-balanced fruit profile in the wine.

The first vintage of Anjea was released in May 2019 as part of Kinsman Eades’ debut. The production has always been limited, between 100 and 200 cases per vintage, making Anjea a sought-after and exclusive wine among collectors.

La Voleuse du Chagrin – Reunion with Geeslin Vineyard

“This is one of the rockiest and one of the sandiest locations I’ve come across in Napa Valley. Yes, it’s St George rootstock and it’s Eisele clone cabernet, but the site shows a more distinct tannic profile – it always had this rustic charm. Yeah, it’s a special site.” – Nigel Kinsman about Geeslin Vineyard

Kinsman Eades' La Voleuse du Chagrin is a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Geeslin Vineyard in Calistoga. The name translates to "The Thief of Sorrow," referencing the fact that grapes from Geeslin Vineyard were previously used by the nearby Araujo Estate, then returned to Kinsman Eades in 2018 – allowing them to release the wine themselves.

Geeslin Vineyard is a small, 1.4-hectare plot located in the eastern part of Calistoga, making it another wine produced in extremely small quantities. The area is known for its rocky and sandy soils, contributing to the wine’s unique tannic profile and rustic charm.

Käännös – A Rare Gem

Kinsman Eades’ Käännös is a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard in Oakville, Napa Valley. The name Käännös means "translation" in Finnish and reflects the wine’s ability to convey and translate the essence of its unique terroir. Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard sits in the heart of Napa Valley and is known for its combination of slopes, well-drained alluvial soils, and optimal exposure. The grapes for Käännös come specifically from Block 4, stretching eastward from the base of the Mayacamas mountains. This location contributes to the wine’s complexity and depth.

The first vintage of Käännös was produced in 2021, with a production of only 362 cases, making it a rare gem in Kinsman Eades’ lineup. The wine consists of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Clone 4, ensuring a distinctive and consistent style.

Kodō – Pulsing Passion

“The literal and woefully inadequate translation of Kodō is ‘heartbeat’. For us, it is something closer to ‘beating heart’ or perhaps even ‘life force’. An introduction by long-time friends and mentors, the Araujos brought us to this scant two-and-a-half-acre site in southern Oakville that pulses with the deafening thump, thump, thump of generations and civilizations before us.”

– Kinsman Eades

Kinsman Eades’ Kodō is an expression of the pulsating life force and passion that characterizes their approach to winemaking. The name, which means heartbeat in Japanese, symbolizes the deep connection between the vineyard and the finished wine. The grapes for Kodō come from a carefully selected area in Napa Valley, where the particular soil conditions and optimal microclimate give the grapes exceptional complexity and intensity.

With a small batch production, Kinsman Eades ensures that every bottle of Kodō reflects the highest quality and authenticity achieved through careful and passionate handling of the grapes.

Aphex – A Jewel of Napa

According to Nigel, he never thought they would have grapes from Ecotone Vineyard in their fermentation tanks. But they did, and the name of the wine is Aphex. Nigel feels they’ve secured one of Napa’s crown jewels.

Kinsman Eades’ Aphex is yet another example of the winery’s dedication to expressing the unique character of terroir through small, carefully controlled batches. The name Aphex suggests a modern and abstract approach, with the wine’s complexity and nuanced flavor profile playing a central role.

Ecotone Vineyard sits at the end of a windy road, too low to be classified as Howell Mountain and too high to be considered St. Helena. It’s a defiant place where slow fogs and soil broken down by volcanic ash result in fruit that ripens at its own pace. And, as with the rest of Kinsman Eades’ portfolio, the yields are extremely low here as well.

Aberro - Indefinite Wanderings

Aberro is a relatively new project from Kinsman Eades, which diverges from the estate's original focus on small batches of single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. According to Kinsman Eades themselves, the name "Aberro" chose them. The name comes from the idea of wandering or getting lost, and this was exactly the concept Kinsman Eades needed after a disastrous 2020 harvest, when wildfires prevented the estate from releasing any Cabernet Sauvignon.

"What followed was a reconnection with our past and newfound freedom for the future. Ultimately, we hope the wines of Aberro will prove the virtue of wandering; of NOT staying the course."
– Kinsman Eades.

Aberro is wine that refuses to be defined by either winemaking style or grape variety. With Aberro, Kinsman Eades experiments with both Chenin Blanc and Syrah. Aberro wines are expressive, open, and lively, growing in the clay soils of Cat Canyon to the more maritime soils of Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara and the volcanic tuff of Diamond Mountain in Napa Valley. The concept is to loosen the grip and enjoy the journey.

An Exclusive Production at Kinsman Eades

Kinsman Eades' production is small and exclusive, with wines only available to a limited group of people. They are primarily sold through a mailing list, which allows the winery to maintain a high level of quality and a close connection with their customers. This approach ensures that both Nigel and Shae can guarantee each bottle receives the utmost attention to detail – from vine to bottle.

Kinsman Eades strives to create an experience where wine lovers not only purchase a bottle but also become part of a community that shares a deep passion for wine.

Kinsman Eades Embodies Passion, Dedication, and Authenticity

Kinsman Eades is more than just a wine producer. It is a business deeply rooted in family and a shared vision to create something genuine and timeless. Nigel and Shae, both with backgrounds in the wine industry, built the winery from the ground up. They combine their experience with deep respect for the local vineyards and a desire to leave a lasting imprint on Napa Valley’s wine landscape.

Looking ahead, Kinsman Eades is committed to continuing to produce wines that are in harmony with nature, promoting a sustainable future for both vineyards and winemakers. Their wine production is constantly evolving, and they see it as their responsibility to learn, adapt, and share their experiences with wine lovers around the world.

Kinsman Eades is an example of how passion, dedication, and respect for nature can create a unique and unforgettable wine experience. Through their craftsmanship, respect for terroir, and philosophy of minimal intervention, Nigel and Shae Kinsman have created a winery that greatly reflects Napa Valley’s premier qualities. In a world of mass-produced wines, Kinsman Eades stands out as one of the most exciting and authentic producers in the region – and if you have not already added Kinsman Eades to your bucket list, now is the time to open your eyes to this emerging Napa gem.