Kinsella Estates is in a picturesque valley in the western foothills of Dry Creek Valley, but it has roots in La Jolla, and, as unlikely as it sounds, in New Jersey’s early rock ‘n roll scene. Founder Kevin Kinsella was a venture capitalist in La Jolla in 2004 when a stage production of a new musical called Jersey Boys impressed him so much he became a financial backer. The show went on to huge international success making Kinsella enough money to start his own wine estate. Kinsella’s 75-acre property is at 500 feet above the Russian River, and includes 12 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards on steep hillsides. Given his talent for selecting winners, it is no surprise that Kinsella in 2007 hired the highly acclaimed Thomas Rivers Brown as winemaker. Brown is one of the today’s most lauded California winemakers, having made highly rated Cabernet Sauvignon for such producers as Schrader, Turley, Maybach and his own Rivers-Marie label. All farming is done organically, and there are also small parcels of Zinfandel and Petit Verdot. Starting with the debut 2008 vintage, reviewers have given Kinsella wines ratings in the 90s. Robert M. Parker Jr. wrote that “The first vintages suggest Kinsella Estates is on the road to being yet another in a string of smashing successes for Kevin Kinsella.”