New Clairvaux vineyard , CA

Yesterday we visited the New Clairvauz Vineyard, CA.  In 1843, a poineer Peter Lassen was awarded a 22,000 acre Mexican land grant.  He started to make wine and eventually the property was purchased by Henry Gerke.  In time it came into the hands of Leland Stanford who was a successful at mining, breeding hourses, building railroads, accumulating wealth and creating a university.  However, not so creative at making fine wines in the Saremento Valley, where in the 1880s he oversaw what was reputedly the world's largest vineyard.  The Monks of the Abby of New Clairvaux were aware of Stanfords thwarted dream.  However, they continued to till the soil and in 1955, Trappist Cistercian Monks purchased the facitily and about 600 acres.  It now serves as a place of prayer, work and home for Monks of the Abby of New Clairvaux.

This is inside the wine tasting area.

In 1098, a group of 21 Benidictine Monks broke off and settled a swampland at Clairvaux (Citeaux in French).  They called themselves Cistercians.  The order was build up around the world and adopted the vows of oberdience, stability, poverity and labour, they prospered in commerse and argriculture, specifically vineyards and winemaking.

The Abbey was established in 1955 when Monks from the Abbey of Gethsemanai sought to begin a foundation in California.  The Abbey was dismanted and brought to Calaifornia from Spain.   It is completely hidden behind a wall that seperates the guest and extern quarters and the monastery enclosure.  There is very little interaction between the guest and the retreatants however, guests are welcome to join the Monks in Chapel to chant the Devine Offer seven times per day.   This is the Church in which the Abbey is located.

Inside the Chapel.  The whole chapel was dismantled in Spain and reassembled by hand once on it's arrived.

There are acres of healthy grape vines from which great wine comes from.

A New Clainvaux white.

We enjoyed our time at the winery and sampled a number of their great wines.  We opted for one for their whites which will pair very nicely with our prawn salad we will be enjoying this evening.

Cheers,
Ross and Beverley