New Clairvaux Vineyards, situated in the small town of Vina, is the premier Trappist-Cistercian Monastery in America to cultivate and produce its own wine. Teaming up with the local Sunseri family, they planted vineyards in 2000, with the inaugural wine debuting in 2003.
This year, at the California State Fair Wine Competition, New Clairvaux Vineyard was honored with a Golden Bear award for their 2023 James Block Moschofiero, which scored 99 points and received Double Gold, Best of Show White. They achieved the same Best of Show White last year, plus their initial Golden Bear with another Greek variety, Assyrtiko.
A second Golden Bear was awarded to their 202 corresponding to their 2023 Poor Souls Block Barbera Rose, which won Best of Show Pink, along with 99 points and Double Gold. Additionally, the vineyard claimed four more Double Gold medals with 99 point scores each. Due to these consistently high scores, New Clairvaux Vineyards was named “Golden State Winery of the Year” receiving their third Golden Bear award.
The other three Best of Show/Golden Bear awards were picked up by: Best Sparkling Wine going to NV Extra Dry Korbel; Best of Show Red by San Simeon 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon; and Best of Show Dessert by the Rancho de Philo Triple Cream Sherry. In sum, out of nearly 2,000 wines entered, three of the six most prestigious awards went to the Trappist-Cistercian Monastery at Vina in Tehama County. A toast to New Clairvaux Vineyards! The winery welcomes visitors daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. without the need for an appointment. For more details, visit www.newclairvauxvineyard.com.
The Navigator and I have been proud members of ZAP, which means Zinfandel Advocates and Producers, for over 30 years. As part of this group, we actively support the preservation and celebration of Zinfandel, an essential part of our wine culture. Through our membership, ZAP can continue its valuable work in Zinfandel research, education, and the conservation of historic vineyards. Each member receives a one-year Passport to Zinfandel granting complementary tastings at numerous ZAP wineries and discounts on event tickets. We stay informed with regular updates about activities and educational content on Zinfandel. Don’t miss out on the Summer Zinfandel Celebration taking place on July 13 at Peachy Canyon Winery in Paso Robles. Memberships start at only $50 annually. Consider joining before the ZinEx Celebration in San Francisco this January, an event that highlights the remarkable qualities of Zinfandel – it’s what initially inspired us to join in the 1990s. With your support, Zinfandel continues to thrive as a globally recognized wine across all major Californian viticultural areas. For more details, visit www.zinfandel.org.
Living remotely limits our access to a wide variety of wines, often restricted to what’s available on our local supermarket’s wine shelves. Here are some exceptional values and award-winning wines from the 2024 California State Fair. Look out for SEAGLASS’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2022 Sauvignon Blanc. Another notable mention is the Best of Show NV Korbel Extra Dry Sparkling. Bogle Family Vineyard also impresses with their 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2021 Pinot Noir. You should consider seeking out the 2021 Matchbook Red Gravel Cabernet Sauvignon, and Coppola’s 2021 Claret and 2022 Pinot Noir. Stay tuned for more top picks in the next Wine Line. Cheers!
Questions? Comments? You can reach me at rgwinton@yahoo.com.
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