In the small town of Vina, California, New Clairvaux Vineyard stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation in winemaking. A fifth-generation winemaker and a community of Trappist-Cistercian monks come together to craft handcrafted, award-winning wines that reflect a commitment to quality and sustainability. The vineyard’s location in rural Tehama County feels genuinely removed from the everyday, with rolling vineyards and quiet countryside stretching in all directions.

Visitors to New Clairvaux Vineyard can explore a variety of notable and unique wines, each telling a story of dedication and expertise that has been passed down through generations. The wines themselves reflect the monks’ approach to their work—deliberate, thoughtful, and grounded in both spiritual practice and agricultural knowledge. Walking through the property gives you a real sense of how integrated the winemaking operation is with the monastic community that tends it.

Dogs are welcome on the grounds, which means you can actually experience the vineyard properly instead of sitting in a car. The outdoor patio offers a comfortable spot to taste wines while your dog settles beside you, and the surrounding grounds give you plenty of room to move around without feeling constrained. The combination of open space, the quiet rural setting, and the genuine atmosphere created by the monks’ presence makes this feel different from more commercial wine country experiences. There’s no pretense here—just serious winemaking rooted in a real community.

The drive to Vina takes you through some genuinely beautiful Northern California landscape, particularly if you’re coming from the Sacramento area. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here if you want to taste through their selection and get a feel for the place. The monks’ commitment to sustainability means the vineyard operates with real intentionality about its environmental impact, which adds another layer to what you’re experiencing when you visit.