Behind the Vines: Meet Amelia Morán Ceja

Behind the Vines: Meet Amelia Morán Ceja, President & Founder

Her philosophy: Amelia Morán Ceja reveals her conviction that the diligent pursuit of a passion is key to success. She notes, “My grandmother told me, whatever you do, if you love it and learn everything you can about it, you will always be successful.”

Amelia’s love affair with food started in Las Flores, Jalisco, Mexico, where she began cooking on her own at the age of eight in the farm kitchen of a strong maternal grandmother. “Mamá Chepa” taught Amelia to cook with fresh, home grown ingredients. When Amelia joined her father, Felipe Morán, in Rutherford in 1967, Amelia threw herself into her new world. On her first weekend in the Napa Valley, Amelia was in the vineyard, harvesting with a knife that seemed half the size of the petite 12-year old.

Along with her key roles at Ceja Vineyards, some of her other passions include social justice causes and giving back to the community. She's the recipient of the 2016 Dolores Huerta Farmworker Justice Award and she's honored to share her story as the Keynote Speaker at the upcoming MLK Monday Community Celebration. Join her for a community gathering celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King while continuing his legacy through a day of action and compassion.

MLK Monday Community Celebration Event - Everyone is Welcome!
When: Monday, January 16th, 2017
Where: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Address: 960 Caymus St, Napa Ca 94559
Time: 7pm
Cost: Free

Photo by Sarah Deragon

Behind The Vines: Meet Armando Ceja, Winemaker

Behind The Vines: Meet Armando Ceja, Winemaker 

His philosophy: “Making wine is more like making preserves than jam,” he says; he favors preserving bright fruit over highly-extracted flavors and high alcohol because it creates wines that stay balanced, youthful and vibrant.

Armando made his first wine when he was 17 years old. He jumped at the offer of a free lot of Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon grapes turning it into his first vintage. After earning an associate degree in chemistry, he graduated in 1985 from UC Davis with a BS in Enology. From there, he worked at Kenwood Vineyards in both winemaking and vineyard management before joining the management team at the Christian Brothers winery on Mt. Veeder. His experience as a viticulturist and enologist continued to thrive from there. 

Balance and perspective is key for him as a winemaker. “I know my roots,” says Armando. “I enjoy being with my crew and I enjoy being with other winemakers. I am who I am. My job is to ensure that the fermentation is going clean and that the things that make good wine are in place. The biggest compliment is when someone says, ‘I had a glass of your wine. I really enjoyed it.'

Ceja Vineyards featured on NBC Latino's One Heritage, Two Generations Series

 

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Amelia and Dalia Ceja were selected to be featured on NBC Latino. We're grateful to our family and friends for the continued support.

Mission San Francisco Solano: A Wine Connection

 

Mission San Francisco Solano has a controversial past that includes grape growing and winemaking. Dalia Ceja highlights the emergence of this landmark.

Mission San Francisco Solano was the 21st, last and northernmost mission in Alta California. It was the only mission built in Alta California after Mexico gained independence from Spain.

The Mission was successful given its short eleven year life but was smaller in number of converts and with lower productivity and diversity of industries than the older California missions.

The mission building is now part of the Sonoma State Historic Park and is located in the city of Sonoma, California.

Cosmo For Latinas Magazine Features Ceja!

Two Words: Latinas Rock.

We are over the moon to be featured in Cosmo for Latinas Magazine summer issue featuring Ceja as their top summer wine tasting destination in Sonoma!

"This gorgeous family-owned vineyard was founded by former Mexican migrant workers who used to pick grapes in the fields before they started their own vinedo. You will be inspired as well as delighted by both the winemakers and their award winning varietals like Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc..."

The May/June issue with Sofia Vergara is on stands now - pick up a copy today! 

Besos,

Dalia x

GEV Magazine Cover Girls: Amelia & Dalia Ceja

HOT OFF THE DIGITAL PRESS!

Please check out GEV Magazine's spring fashion cover featuring my mom and me for their first mother-daughter editorial. In this feature, read about Ceja Vineyards excitement around the combination of wine, women, food, fashion and fiestas. I would like to send a big shout out and thank you to the entire Gastronomique En Vogue Magazine team + Glam squad for bringing their vision to life. Please share with your family and friends!

Read full cover story HERE! 

Besos,

Dalia 
 

Amelia and Dalia Cooking Video Teaser

 

Lights.... Camera.... Action!

Go behind the scenes with the dynamic mother-daughter duo of Ceja Vineyards. Meet Dalia and Amelia Ceja as they share their passions of wine and food. Learn how to make Salmon Ceviche paired with Ceja Vineyards estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

P.S. Click HERE to watch more food and wine pairing videos from the Ceja ladies!

DREAMLAND Premiere

Experience the true California lifestyle!

Two weeks ago my mom and I attended the “Dreamland” movie screening in Sacramento {we attended the world premiere in London last November}. The film features essential elements of California’s lifestyle – cuisine, wine, music, entertainment and film. I’m particularly excited to share this post because my family and I had the unique opportunity to be selected as part of the cast and to represent a wine focused family living in the Napa Valley!

The plot - “DREAMLAND” tells the story of one day in California. Filmed simultaneously from dawn until dusk on November 19, 2010, it follows a remarkable ensemble of Californians who are pushing the bounds of the possible. On this one-day event, a dozen documentary film crews scattered across the Golden State – all working together to tell the story of one day in time by individually capturing unique stories of people and places.

The cast includes entrepreneurs, daredevils, entertainers, scientists, politicians, chefs and technologists who are all in California for the same reason: to make their dreams a reality. Each embodies an adventurous and innovative spirit that symbolizes California.

The film provides detailed snapshots of what makes California so desirable to travelers from around the world – I feel so lucky that I can call this place my home! The film was sponsored by Visit California and will air on PBS this fall and will also be shown on international T.V. channels. Stay tuned for more info! Ole!

Ceja in Yosemite!

A few weeks ago my mom and I took a quick trip to Yosemite for the Ahwahnee Vintners’ Holiday Tasting. It was quite an honor to be invited back considering that most of these legendary vintners have been coming for the past 20 years {can you blame them?!}. This place is a nature junkie’s heaven, with its vast array of hiking, waterfalls, biking, lakes, wildlife, breathtaking views and insanely gorgeous scenery.

The wine sessions took up the majority of our time {no complaint here!} but we did have a chance to escape into the forest and explore the park by foot. Despite the freezing chilly weather, it was instantly therapeautic, breathing in the clean and pure smells of pine and fresh rain. We were even lucky enough to see a bear in the middle of our trail, but in the midst of yanking out my camera my mom fled the scene in a yelling panic attack, poor thing {insert laughing here}. Love you mom!

P.s. I could go on for hours about this place but I will leave it up to you to see the beauty of Yosemite… Ole!

Making Pesto with Dalia Ceja: Part 2

Using the base pesto sauce she made in Part 1, Dalia Ceja creates three delectable dishes: sun-dried tomato and a bow-tie spicy cilantro pasta and Parmesan bruschetta. Dalia then pairs these tasty treats with Ceja Vineyards' Carneros Pinot Noir.