RV Roadtrip Diary USA - Part 14 of 15 - The New Clairvaux Winery
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Follow Rohan and Paul and the mischief they get up to as they travel through some of the most beautiful parts of America and the Californian West Coast.
A big thanks to Apollo and the Redding Tourism Board
Monastic life financed by wine business
1. Wide of New Clairvaux sign on road, white crucifix on opposite side of the road
2. Mid of gate to New Clairvaux monastery
3. Close up sign New Clairvaux Abbey
4. Wide of garden in New Clairvaux Abbey
5. Various of monks at a prayer service (singing)
6. Various of Brother Rafael Flores, Cistercian Monk pruning vine
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brother Rafael Flores, Cistercian Monk
I was never attracted to farming. But coming here and working with my inner life I feel very connected with the vineyard.
8. Wide of vineyard
9. Wide of tractor
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Aimee Sunseri, Winemaker
My family's been winemaking for one hundred years now so it's kind of deep in my roots. And it wasn't until I met the monks that I first thought maybe I should get into my family's tradition because tradition is such an important thing here.
11. Various of barrels of wine in cellar
12. Various of wine bottling process
13. Wide of wine bottling process
14. Various of bottle corking process
15. Various of wine bottles being cleaned and packed in boxes
16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Aimee Sunseri, Winemaker
You would think because they're catholic and have all these rules and they're so strict and they have this lifestyle that is so dedicated to what they believe that they might not be as open to other people's lifestyles and what they believe and that's not the truth or at least what I've found. They've been very open and they like visitors and they're very welcoming to guests.
17. Various of wine tasting
18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Donna Kuszai, Visitor
I'm really surprised. I've never been any place like this before and it really is a neat operation and it's so peaceful here and it's just really nice.
19. Close up of bottle of New Clairvaux wine
LEADIN :
The Catholic church has a long connection with wine and vineyards.
Catholics believe that during the sacrament of the Eucharist, bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, signifying his sacrifice on the cross.
Now a community of cistercian monks has become the first Roman Catholic monastery in the United States to make its own wine as a way of financing their devout way of life.
STORYLINE:
Secluded behind the walls of a Northern California monastery, two dozen cistercian monks follow the teachings of Saint Benedict, rising before dawn each morning to pray.
The abbey of New Clairvaux was founded in 1955 and named in honour of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th century French church leader.
The trappist religious order has a long history of farming.
The monks here spend each day enhancing both spirit and soil.
But they were struggling to meet the day to day finances of running the community.
So last year the monks joined forces with Aimee Sunseri, a fifth generation wine maker, to become the first Roman Catholic monastery in the United States to grow and bottle its own wine.
The collaboration has been success for the clerics, sustaining them both financially and spiritually.
Brother Rafael Flores says he finds time for peace and reflection, whilst pruning in the monastery's vineyard.
The vineyard sits on 600 acres of land once owned by former california governor Leland Stanford (born March 9 1824 - died June 21 1893).
The monk's wine-making is a blend of traditional methods devised in the old world vineyards of Europe and the latest wine bottling technology, like automated bottle fillers and corkers.
They're currently using the former governor's 100-year-old brick wine cellar to produce, age and bottle their wines.
But despite the seclusion of monastic life, the monks enjoy their work, and enjoy working with outsiders.
Aimee Sunseri says they have been open and welcoming to new ideas and visitors.
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Sacred Stones (2011)
In August, 2011, my camera and I spent a day at the Abby of New Clairvaux near Vina, California. They have taken on large and seemingly impossible restoration project. They're going to finish it, however. After all, who can say No to a monk?
For more about my book, including a look at the first chapter and Table of Contents , please visit:
Sacred Stones--May 2008 update
The Abbey of New Clairvaux is currently rebuilding an 800 year old section of a Cistercian monastery from Spain. When finished, this will be one of the three oldest free-standing buildings in the United States. sacredstones.org
Rob on the Road: Sacred Stones
Its the story of the traveling stones! Rob takes you to Tehama County to show you how 800 year old sacred stones from Spain have traveled all the way to California to become the oldest structure in state. Visit to see more Rob on the Road.
Sacramento River Ecological Tours - Guide Henry Lomeli
Henry Lomeli started Sacramento River Ecotours as a way to support his children as a single father in a true rags to riches story. Henry shares his 30+ years of experience on the river in every ecotour.
Listen to Henry’s tips on how to gain knowledge from experts to relay to others. He is passionate about the fact that the Sacramento River sustains the state of California, and wants to help build a love and appreciation for it in others.
Buckle up for the story of Henry’s Discovery Channel appearance-he was a contestant on Tethered, where he was connected to someone for 10 days with no outdoor experience and had to guide the both of them to their destination.
Also listen to Henry’s touching connection to New Clairvaux winery, and why he only serves Aimee Sunseri’s wines on his tours.
For more information on Sacramento River Ecotours, check out Henry’s website: sacramentoriverecotours.com/
Follow him on Instagram @henry__lomeli
Or give him a call at (530) 864-8594.
See Henry’s episode of Tethered on Amazon
See Laura’s episode of Naked and Afraid, Season 6 episode 11
Check out New Clairvaux in Vina, CA
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Chad Alderson: @chadalderson on Instagram
Nick Hanna: @norcalflyguy on Instagram
Production Staff:
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Liz Heller: liz@barbless.co
Bryan Lyon: bryan@barbless.co
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Cistercians | Wikipedia audio article
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Cistercians
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SUMMARY
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The Cistercians (), officially the Order of Cistercians (Latin: (Sacer) Ordo Cisterciensis, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. They are also known as Bernardines, after the highly influential St. Bernard of Clairvaux (though that term is also used of the Franciscan Order in Poland and Lithuania); or as White Monks, in reference to the colour of the cuccula or white choir robe worn by the Cistercians over their habits, as opposed to the black cuccula worn by Benedictine monks.
The term Cistercian (French Cistercien), derives from Cistercium, the Latin name for the village of Cîteaux, near Dijon in eastern France. It was in this village that a group of Benedictine monks from the monastery of Molesme founded Cîteaux Abbey in 1098, with the goal of following more closely the Rule of Saint Benedict. The best known of them were Robert of Molesme, Alberic of Cîteaux and the English monk Stephen Harding, who were the first three abbots. Bernard of Clairvaux entered the monastery in the early 1110s with 30 companions and helped the rapid proliferation of the order. By the end of the 12th century, the order had spread throughout France and into England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
The keynote of Cistercian life was a return to literal observance of the Rule of St Benedict. Rejecting the developments the Benedictines had undergone, the monks tried to replicate monastic life as it had been in Saint Benedict's time; indeed in various points they went beyond it in austerity. The most striking feature in the reform was the return to manual labour, especially agricultural work in the fields, a special characteristic of Cistercian life. The Cistercians also made major contributions to culture and technology in mediaeval Europe: Cistercian architecture is considered one of the most beautiful styles of medieval architecture; and the Cistercians were the main force of technological diffusion in fields such as agriculture, hydraulic engineering, and metallurgy.
The original emphasis of Cistercian life was on manual labour and self-sufficiency, and many abbeys have traditionally supported themselves through activities such as agriculture and brewing ales. Over the centuries, however, education and academic pursuits came to dominate the life of many monasteries. A reform movement seeking a simpler lifestyle began in 17th-century France at La Trappe Abbey, and became known as the Trappists. The Trappists were eventually consolidated in 1892 into a new order called the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Latin: Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae), abbreviated as OCSO. The Cistercians who did not observe these reforms and remained within the Order of Cistercians and are sometimes called the Cistercians of the Common Observance when distinguishing them from the Trappists.
Rob on the Road: 99 stops
Uncover some of California’s best-kept secrets, from an ancient building transported to the small town of Vina to the Bok Kai temple in Marysville. Plus, taste globally recognized wine in Lodi and hit the ice with professional hockey team Stockton Heat.