Yesterday was the annual Blessing of the Grapes at our favorite winery -
New Clairvaux Vineyards in Vina, Ca
I wouldn't blame you if you prefer to sit under the shade of these Redwood trees in this 112-degree heat.
As we walk across the retreat compound - toward the Monks Market, I came upon this totally cool table. I asked my husband if he would make me one just like it.
Ha!
These huge walnut trees are everywhere and provide much-needed shade here in the Sacramento Valley.
There's the water!
I'm fine with just water right now - the sampling of the wines will happen after the Monks bless the grapes, the vineyard, and those who will be enjoying the fruit of their labors.
Which way to go - we'll come back to this later. Meanwhile, we're going to hang out at the Monks Marketplace.
Under the shade of giant walnut trees are local farmers, ranchers, and vendors - California cheeses, Almond milk, grass fed-beef, Sacramento Eco-Tours, local fruit, and vegetables grown a few miles away - olive tastings, grapes, goat cheeses, cold press juices -
The real star will be the wine -
That comes after the Blessing...
We have 2 large grape vines - just your basic seedless red grapes.
The harvest will begin in August - they welcome volunteers. My husband wants to join them, so he can learn more about our grapes and how he can grow them better.
Netting to protect from grape-eating deer
Roses at each end of the rows - attract the bees for pollination.
Here comes the procession of the Trappist Monks -
All of a sudden the loud sounds of chatter are no longer as everyone shows respect.
The crowd gets bigger every year -
And so the blessing begins
The Cantors chant then we all join in on the responsorial psalm
It sounds like Heaven...
And then with outstretched hands, the Abbot blesses the grapes, the vineyard, and those who will soon be tasting - one Monk has a silver bucket of Holy Water and using the aspergillum; sprinkles (more like tossing) the holy water onto the vines, and the people.
The Winemaker, a 5th generation California Winemaker is there as well.
That brick building was the original winery back when Leland Stanford (Stanford University owned it) It was called the Great Vina Ranch at the time. 55,000 acres and the vineyards stretched to 4000 acres. They are said to have produced two-million gallons of wine and were the world's largest wine operation.
Prohibition forced Stanford to sell - his son had just died of typhoid fever now his interest took him away from winemaking and toward starting a University and a children's hospital in Palo Alto.
1951, the Trappist-Cistercian monks purchased 600 acres in 1951.
All the award-winning wines - this year they won the coveted Golden Bear trophy at the California State Fair.
We used to go down several times a year to pick up our wine club orders - but since the pandemic and lockdown, we haven't been there since 2019.
There is so much more to this story - the Monks, William Randall Hearst, and the Napa Wine Big Boy Club that tried to discredit Amiee, the Winemaker. (Because she was a woman?) But it turns out that she now has the last laugh. I'm telling you the tale sounds like the foundation of a really good movie.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this little adventure. I might go into more detail on my other blog - just because I want to. I have some beautiful photos of the Church - the ancient stones that were brought over from Spain by William Randall Hearst and then the great depression happened and the ancient stones winded up in San Francisco's Golden Gate park. Then they finally found their way to their original destination - The Abbey at New Clairvaux.
Take Care
Debby
