The Abbey of New Clairvaux - Vina, CA
New Clairvaux Vineyard – Rich in California History
Tucked away in Vina, California, you’ll find a little slice of heaven that most people don’t even know exists. Let’s set the scene; a long dirt road leads you to one of the most unique winery destinations to exist. The birds are chirping, the crisp air has a faint smell of ripe wine grapes, and the bell of the church rings in the background. This is the New Clairvaux Vineyard.
The land where the New Clairvaux Winery is located has always been a noble destination rich in history. It once belonged to California Governor, Leland Stanford, who transformed the property into the world’s largest wine operation at the time. Labeled as “The Great Vina Ranch,” the vines sprawled across four thousand acres and had an annual production of two million gallons.
The land was sold off in nineteen nineteen, and later in nineteen fifty five, about six hundred acres of this prized ranch were purchased by Trappist-Cistercian monks of Kentucky. When the brothers arrived in Tehama County, they were confident “The Great Vina Ranch” would serve them well, both financially and in their faith.
“We wanted to continue the legacy, not only of Leland Stanford but also the other two owners at the time, especially the Flynn family that we bought it from,” said Father Placid, Abbey Ranch secretary and treasurer.
The brothers are guided by the seminary rule and the Cistercian monastery philosophy, meaning they are dedicated to labor and prayer every day. When they are not praying, you can often find them tending to the crops grown at the farm. Known as the Abbey of New Clairvaux, the farm produces walnuts, prunes, tomatoes, and wine grapes.
The walnuts are sent to a processor, and the prunes are sold to Sunsweet, but the wine grapes, in particular, are a special project for the brothers. They are sold to the New Clairvaux Winery through a fifty fifty partnership, and the monastery works with a fifth generation Napa winemaker to turn their grapes into wine on site.
Since planting their first vine twenty three years ago, the operation has grown significantly in size. They now grow fifteen different varietals on fifteen acres, all managed and processed by the brothers. The wine is available for tasting and purchase at the winery’s tasting room on site and is also served at mass daily. The New Clairvaux wines have earned both national and international awards.
Keeping this valuable piece of property in pristine condition is of the utmost importance for the Abbey Ranch and New Clairvaux communities, which is why they decided to transition the vines to organic a few years ago.
In addition to being certified organic, the ranch emphasizes conserving water and electricity. Micro sprinkler systems ensure there is not a single drop of water wasted on the farm. A solar facility allows the ranch to operate independently from the grid, with excess power sent back to it.
“Creation is sacred, and we are co creators and co stewards of this creation with God,” said Brother Luis Cortez, vineyard manager at Abbey Ranch. “It is a great honor to have this opportunity to take care of the land not only for our sake, but for the sake of our community and all of humanity.”
With today’s markets and increased inflation, keeping up with operations can be difficult. With the help of Golden State Farm Credit, New Clairvaux will be able to keep the farm viable and thriving for generations to come.
Not only is New Clairvaux’s winemaking property one of the most historic in the world, but the one of a kind experience it provides to guests is a true gem in Northern California, and that is something Golden State Farm Credit is proud to be involved in.
“The seamless experience and customer service given by Golden State Farm Credit is something that has been greatly appreciated,” Father Placid said. The Abbey Ranch operation is incredibly unique, and Golden State Farm Credit understands its business and serves its needs.
“We were not sure what we were getting ourselves into doing a line of credit because that is not normally what we do as monks,” said Father Placid. “But without Golden State Farm Credit, we would not be able to keep our operations running as well as we do.”