A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words...

Mi madre - Amelia Ceja

“If a picture is worth a thousand words then family is worth 10 million…”

I dedicate this post to my mom, Amelia Ceja. Today happens to be her birthday and in honor of her special day I want to take a moment to celebrate her achievements and recognize a very inspiring individual who has not only made an impact in my life but also in the thriving wine industry.

This past week proved to be very exciting! My mom, our family and our business, Ceja Vineyards, were featured on NBCs Today Show {watch the segment HERE}! The interview captured the essence of my mother’s voice, representing a Latina woman that went from ex-immigrant to vineyard worker, to winery owner. I am proud of what she and my entire family have accomplished. We are not perfect. We have our own challenges but as a family we make it work and want to leave behind a legacy that through hard work, sacrifice, passion and dedication, anything is possible.

Photographer, Norma Quintana, took these portraits of my family in 2005. We were honored to have been part of a photo series she shot, titled, Forget Me Not/No Me Olvides.

Back in the day - age 20

Sr. Pablo and dad Pedro Ceja

My Abuelita - Mama Juanita

Uncle - Armando Ceja

{My bro, musician - Navek Ceja}

Happy Birthday Mom! Te quiero muchisimo.

Ceja Vineyards Wine Club Cruise

Sail away with me to paradise...

There is nothing more appealing than leaving the chilly California weather during February and embarking on a cruise to the Western Caribbean! In fact, this was no ordinary cruise and instead marked our inaugural Ceja Vineyards wine club cruise with over 100 of our fabulous club members. Traveling will forever remain a huge passion in my life and this trip was nothing less than unforgettable and amazing.

The Celebrity Silhouette was our home for seven days, which was not only grandiose but also luxurious in every facet. We set sail from Fort Lauderdale and leisurely made our way to Cozumel, Grand Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Haiti. Each stop was simply breathtaking with gorgeous panoramic views of crystal clear Caribbean water, white sandy beaches and lush vegetation.

Our agenda was relaxed but was naturally interweaved with socializing, dining and getting to know our wine club members on a personal basis. We held exclusive food and wine pairing dinners and tastings that were both educational, entertaining and fun! Overall the experience was such a huge success that we will be embarking on a wine club cruise every year. So, who’s coming with us next time? Ole!

Rock and Vine Book Launch

Oh hello, 2013!  This past month has already proved to be an exciting year with lots of exhilarating projects and events in the works. I’m so honored to announce (and be included) in the book launch of Rock and Vine – a stunning coffee table book which features the lives and innovations of eleven young change-makers who are shaping the future of wine through their own skill and style.

Authored by publisher Chelsea Prince, edited by Master of Wine Christy Canterbury, and photographed by Mary Steinbacher, the book introduces talented wine industry trailblazers who are primed to perpetuate and evolve the legacy of Napa and Sonoma Valley.

The eleven profiled Rock and Vine leaders include:

• Joe Wagner of Wagner Family Made Wine
• Nicole Marchesi of Far Niente
• Angelina Mondavi of Dark Matter
• Dalia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards
• Christina Turley of Turley Wine Cellars
• Tony Leonardi of BNA Wine Group
• Jason Exposto of Futo
• August Sebastiani of The Other Guys
• Jordan Kivelstadt of Free Flow Wines
• Morgan Peterson of Bedrock Wine Co.
• Danny Fay, Mike Benziger, and Ben Flajnik of Envolve Winery
• *Maggie Pramuk of Robert Biale Vineyards - writes the introduction

Here’s a sneak peek and behind the scenes look…

P.S. A portion of all profits from Rock and Vine sales will benefit Wine To Water, a non-profit organization focused on providing clean water to people in need around the world. For more information on Rock and Vine and to purchase the book, please visit www.rockandvinebook.com - Chelsea, thank you again for your passionate vision and for bringing this beautiful book to life.

Take Me to Apple Hill

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I had the opportunity to explore Apple Hill, nestled away in the high Sierra Foothills. It couldn’t have been a more beautiful November day that simply screamed of fall with all of the vivid yellow, orange and red hues highlighting the apple trees and vineyards.

It was the perfect fall outing spending the day visiting apple farms and wineries and was a refreshing change of scenery being surrounded by the rustic charm and beauty. I was like a little kid in a candy shop with every stop we made. From the endless apple orchards, to the pies baking at the roadside stands {you have to try the apple crisp & hot apple cider at Kids Inc.}, to the quaint tasting rooms scattered throughout area.

This is unquestionably a fun playground not only for kids but for adults too. Did I mention there's also a micro-brewery? Umm, yes please! You’re never too old to love going to Apple Hill and I will now make it a yearly fall tradition. 

P.S. What traditions do you have during the holidays?

Postcards from Puerto Vallarta

Oh hello, Thanksgiving week! I just came back from spending 10 glorious days in Puerto Vallarta.  This was no ordinary trip and in fact I was there for work (yes, work) promoting Ceja Vineyards wines at the Festival Gourmet International at The Grand Mayan Resort. It was quite the honor to participate considering my mom was the invited chef at Tramonto Restaurant. I also acted as her Sous Chef and we both joined forces to heavily promote our wines during the winemaker dinners every evening.

I had been to Puerto Vallarta once before as a kid but now I could really appreciate the lush landscape, the vibrant culture and the beautiful beaches. We had a strict agenda most of the time but during the day we had a few hours to escape and explore the quaint colonial town, eat fresh fish on the beach and catch some rays with a refreshing Paloma in hand.

Here are a few highlights of the trip - both working & relaxing. 

Every night I was floored by the reactions that the guests had of the delicious food, the wines and the overall dinning experience. We couldn’t have done it without the help of such an amazing and cohesive team at the Grand Mayan Resort. From the talented chefs, to the sommeliers, to the servers at the restaurant, everyone collaborated as a unit and made it a 5 star experience – both unique and unforgettable. I can’t wait to go back and do it all over again!

Chefs: Cassandra, Felipe, Amelia & me in Tramonto's kitchen

Grilled Chile Relleno

Tortilleria "tortilla bakery." They make over 50,000 tortillas a day for the entire resort

Testing our recipes with the chefs

Lobster + Ceja Chardonnay

Inside the test kitchen

Inside the restaurant, working the floor