Vina, CA - Wine Tasting & Chinese Artifacts
Vina had a Chinatown in Tehama County and it was located on both sides of Sixth Street, northward along the railroad tracks in the town of Vina. A fire in 1919 marked its end ("Valley Chinatowns" 1972: 29). Although Vina’s Chinatown was gone by 1919, Vina’s Chinese Cemetery continued until 1929, when the last Chinese interred in the cemetery was removed. A ceremonial burner still marks the location of the cemetery in 1972 ("Valley Chinatowns" 1972: 29).
Red Bluff Daily Newspaper circa March 3, 1979 - Generously provided by the Kofford & Thompson Family
The best part of visiting Vina, CA is that you can stop for a fleet of holy communion wine!
New Clairvaux Vineyard is located at 26240 7th St, Vina, CA 96092. Driving along Highway 99 you will see a small Vina exit and from there you can follow the signs directing you. Drive slow or you will miss the sharp turn leading to the small road that crosses the China Slough. The brick building is where the winery is located with the tasting room, located at the far north end of the building.
Upon arrival it is hard to miss the beautiful Church that is operated by Catholic Cistercian monks practicing ancient monastic traditions. This historic land now serves as a place of prayer, work and home to the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux.
Be sure to visit the Museum next to the Tasting room where a glass cabinet displays Chinese artifacts that have been gifted, found or excavated within the Vineyard lands.
The land itself has a wonderful Chinese American story so lets begin the journey.
About the Abbey from the Sacramento Diocesan Archives, Vol 4, No 61
The year of 1167 is when the Abbey of Santa Maria de Ovila was founded by Alfonso VIII, King of Castile. The King used the Abbey to safeguard the country from being conquered by the Moors. Growing grapes and producing wine have been part of the Cistercian heritage since the very first days of the Order’s founding. Citeaux, founded in 1098, received in 1108 the vineyard of Meursault as a gift from the Duke of Burgundy. In 1110, Citeaux received the vineyard of de Vougeot from a certain Guerric of Chamballe. In 1112-1115 Citeaux began the construction of the wine cellar of de Vougeot (Bernard of Clairvaux entered the Order in 1113, and founded Clairvaux in 1115). The Abbey of Santa Maria de Ovila, from where the chapter house comes, began making wine in 1194.
History of the Chinese Monks
April 1883 was the first, Our Lady of Consolation Monastery, founded in the Chahai Province from a French Abbey, beyond the Great Wall of China. The Chinese Communists had tortured, mock trials, murdered monks, and had a death march in the bitter cold. The monks that survived the death march and prison gathered in Peking and the community was able to survive until 1953 when the Communists confiscated the property and forced the community to scatter. Consolation Abbey had been destroyed. In April 1928, monks were sent from Consolation Abbey to establish the second monastery, Our Lady of Joy, in Hebei Province. The community was forced to move several times to flee the Communists and divided into different small groups. Ten monks crossed the border into Hong Kong, and began a new monastery that continues today known as The Abbey of Our Lady of Joy. This acquaintance was the genesis of the New Clairvaux Abbey becoming the “Motherhouse of Our Lady of Joy” and Father Immediate, according to the Constitution of the Trappist Order in September 1960.
The monastery was looking for a community to replace the role of Consolation Abbey, preferably an American community. Father Eusebius Wagner had become the first Abbot of New Clairvaux Abbey, so he and the community accepted this responsibility. The abbots of Vina visit the Hong Kong Abbey at least every two years, for various purposes, including canonical visitations in the role as Father Immediate. The Abbot of New Clairvaux in Vina now serves as Father Immediate. From time to time, other monks from Vina have traveled to Taiwan to serve there on a temporary basis.
About the Land Grant
In 1843, Peter Lassen obtained the land grant of Rancho Bosquejo from the Mexican government where the Abbey of New Clairvaux is currently located. It was in 1846 that Peter Lassen planted one acre of vines with cuttings he obtained from the Missions in Southern California, travelling there by horse. “Lassen planted a one-acre mission grape vineyard and began making wine. In 1853, Lassen’s ranch fell into the hands of entrepreneur and winemaker Henry Gerke, who expanded the small vineyard to nearly 100 acres. His wines were shipped world-wide”.
History of Chinese & Leland Stanford
In 1881, governor, Leland Stanford bought the land and expanded it to 55,000 acres. He began the construction of the Great Vina Ranch by hiring several hundred Chinese to plant more than 600,000 cuttings, and spared no expense (Read More). According to the Red Bluff Daily Newspaper, there were 200 Chinese registered residents in Vina, CA in 1893. Along the railroad tracks formed Vina's Chinatown. The Chinese in Vina that were employed in Leland Stanford's vineyards, tended to the vines, picked and packed grapes, and worked in the winery. On the Stanford property, there was also a Chinese store selling groceries, clothing, medicine, and "China goods".
By 1889, Stanford created the largest winery and vineyard in the world. Unfortunately, Stanford planted the wrong type of grapes, planted in the wrong terrain and climate. As a result, Stanford started making 40,000 gallons of brandy instead and the row of beautiful brick Brandy sheds are still standing where they were first built. After Leland’s death, and prior to the onset of prohibition, the winery ceased operation and the estate fell into disarray, finally being split up and sold off in pieces by the Trustees of Stanford University.
In 1931, the Abbey was purchased by William Randolph Hearst for his private Hearst Estate was located on the McCloud River in rural Siskiyou country but burned down in 1929. Since the Abbey was brought to the U.S. from Spain in small sections, the architect (and well known Chinese supporter) Julia Morgan planned to restore the Chapter House at Wyntoon.
It was in 1955 that the Trappist Cistercian Monks purchased the winemaking facility and surround land of approximately 600 acres. This historic land now serves as a place of prayer, work and home to the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux.
Red Bluff Daily Newspaper circa February 3, 1979 - Generously provided by the Kofford & Thompson Family
Red Bluff Daily Newspaper circa February 18, 1978 - Generously provided by the Kofford & Thompson Family