Ceja Vineyards

Happy Birthday Pedro Ceja (Dad)

¡Feliz Cumpleaños Papa Pedro Ceja!

First look with my dad on our wedding day!  Such a special moment between us that I will never forget. Today is also his birthday and he looks more handsome than ever! As he always jokes, “I’m aging like a damn fine wine.” True story dad...

If there’s a way to build it, my dad will find it. This week we celebrate his artistic eye and contributions to Ceja Vineyards. From his work as an engineer, he understands that even the simplest product represents a lot of skill and work. He brings a forward-looking practicality and analytical eye to our Ceja winery plans. Next time you see him give him a big bear hug and grill him on the winery plans - he'll be in heaven!

P.S. Please visit www.daliaceja.com to see more of my wedding pictures! 

 

International Women's Day

Purpose fuels passion. The world needs more women storytellers, dreamers, change makers and action takers. There is no force more powerful or beautiful than women supporting each other.

Three generations of Ceja women coming together to empower the next generation. We all move forward when we recognize how resilient, supportive, empowering & passionate the women around us are. Today and everyday we celebrate women around the world!

#internationalwomensday

Visit Carneros Wineries + Plan Your Wine Tasting Itinerary

Plan your next wine tasting experience focused around the Carneros wine growing region in Napa and Sonoma Valley! We are thrilled to partner with Beau Wine Tours who provide intimate VIP experiences that are unique to each client’s taste and wine preferences. Learn more about Beau Wine Tours and book your next tour!

Below, you’ll find some of my favorite wine tasting spots in Carneros! You will notice they share a few things in common: stunning views, award-winning wine portfolios, and unforgettable hospitality experiences! Unlike most of the Napa Valley’s famous AVA’s, Carneros is known largely for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, as well as famous sparkling houses like Domaine Carneros (check it out below!). Recently, other varieties have been planted as viticulturists experiment with the region’s rolling hills, cool fog, and warm daytime temperatures.

1. Ceja Vineyards
No brainer! Enhance your wine knowledge as you learn about our rich Mexican heritage and see what makes the Carneros region such a premier grape growing region. Nuestra casa es su casa, we look forward to hosting you in the near future!

2. Domaine Carneros 
Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles. Sit on the patio and enjoy the gorgeous views of the Carneros countryside.

3. Bouchaine Vineyards
Overlooking San Pablo Bay and both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Liana Estates is a picturesque winery perfect for an afternoon escape.

4. Artesa Winery
It's like a walking art gallery with wines and a view to match the beauty of Carneros.

7-Night Italy, France, Monaco & Spain Ceja Wine Cruise

Join your host Amelia Ceja for an unforgettable wine cruise experience on the extraordinary Celebrity Edge. Step aboard the stunning Celebrity Edge for a 7-night journey from Rome, Italy to Barcelona, Spain.

June 15 - 22, 2019 | Aboard Celebrity Edge

Sailing From Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Enjoy these private Ceja Vineyards events with Amelia Ceja
- Welcome aboard wine reception
- Exclusive wine pairing luncheon with Amelia Ceja
- Behind-the-scenes tour of Celebrity’s culinary operations
- 1 hour cooking demonstration paired with Ceja Vineyards wines
- 1 hour wine tasting featuring Ceja Vineyards wines
- 1 hour farewell Salsa Dance Party

Exclusive to the Celebrity Edge
- The Magic Carpet – Movable cantilevered platform
- Infinite Verandas – Transformed staterooms
- King sized beds with Cashmere Bedding Collection
- Eden – Three stories of windows in a garden oasis
- Rooftop garden – a living urban playscape
- Martini-shaped hot tubs
- Outward facing pool deck
- Solarium – Adults-only sanctuary
- 18 unique restaurants

Celebrity Edge
Luxurious, High Tech Staterooms – Designed with all the right tasteful details. Retreat to your private haven that offers Cashmere Bedding Collection, embroidered robes, lemongrass scented bath products, flat screen smart TVs and state-of-the-art design and technology. 

Extraordinary Service – That is smartly attentive not tediously formal, A staff person for nearly every two guests ensures you can fully escape your everyday. Sommeliers providing insights on new emerging wines. And rooms that are attended to twice a day so that even the smallest details are covered.

Exceptional Dining – Favorites and soon to be favorites served in 18 distinctive restaurants. Enjoy menus crafted by a James Beard-nominated chef that change each evening in one of a kind dining rooms.

Ports Include: Naples, Italy | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Cannes, France | Palma De Mallorca, Spain | Barcelona, Spain

To book this exclusive wine cruise, or for more information contact:

Patty Hoey at AAA Travel

707-252-5619 • patty.hoey@norcal.aaa.com

View Full Itinerary

Night Grape Harvest 101

Over the past few decades, night harvesting has been embraced as the best way to harvest wine grapes. Many of the finest wineries in the world practice this method, including Ceja Vineyards! Here are a few reasons why we've decided to take on this method:

BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE VINEYARD CREW
Let's be real, picking grapes by hand is back breaking work. All of our grapes are picked strictly by hand, making it extremely hard, meticulous work.

Although the Carneros agricultural zone may get cold at night, the days can be very warm, and our vineyard management crew quickly realized the benefits of not laboring through hot, sunny days. Pickers were able to work faster and more efficiently.

IT PRESERVES THE PURITY OF THE FRUIT
Keeping grapes cold protects the delicate flavors, skins and pulp. Heat can “cook” fruit destroying important acidity and softening pulp so the fruit tastes “flabby.” By picking when fruit is chilled, the grapes remain clean and fresh. You can taste the difference in the juice even before it’s made into wine.

IT MAXIMIZES WINERY EFFICIENCY
Interestingly, picking the grapes when they’re cold saves energy, because they don’t have to be mechanically pre-chilled before they’re crushed.

IT SHOWCASES BALANCED FRUIT FLAVORS
Cold temperatures keep acidity higher, minimize phenolic extraction of the skins and keep astringency in check. Warmth also changes the sugar composition of grapes, and can promote undesirable wild yeast fermentation. Higher sugar levels lead to the higher alcohols that Ceja avoids. By picking chilled, the resulting wine is fruit-forward but elegantly balanced, showcasing stone fruit nuances and vibrant acidity. Balance is key!

Please enjoy some raw night footage of our Ceja Vineyards harvest during previous years!

Salsa Con Vino (Vol. 3): July 21st, 2018

Dance Papi and the Napa Valley Opera House present “Salsa Con Vino (Vol. 3),” a lively celebration of dance, music and wine on Saturday, July 21st. This community dance event includes live salsa and timba music by Rumbaché, salsa lessons by Nick and Serena and DJ Walt Digz to keep things hot on the dance floor.

7:30 pm | Doors Open
8:00 pm - 8:45 pm | Salsa Lesson by Nick & Serena
8:45 pm - 10:45 pm | Live Salsa & Timba Music by Rumbaché
11:00 pm - 12:30 am | DJ Walt Digz

Tickets:
$20 in advance online
$25 at the door

Purchase Tickets!

Napa Valley Opera House
1030 Main St
Napa, CA 94559

21+ with ID

Wine, Beer & Cocktails Available for Purchase

Dress: Casual & Mature
No Baseball Hats or Sports Jerseys

Live Salsa & Timba Music by Rumbaché:
Rumbaché has established themselves as one of the hottest Bay Area Salsa Bands! Fusing salsa, timba, bomba, funk and whatever else they can find to spice up the mood, they provide a hard hitting style of playing. And while you can hear them interpreting the classic and contemporary Cuban and Salsa repertoire, they are not shy with their own expression, as evidenced by their hit debut CD “Llego La Fiesta”, released in April of 2011. Rumbaché is the voice of youth for San Francisco's Salsa & Timba scene, and ignites enthusiasm in dancers and musical connoisseurs alike.

Salsa Lessons by Nick & Serena:
Nicholas Van Eyck and Serena Wong are the founders and directors of Salsa Vale Todo: the premier Bay Area Cuban salsa dance group. Dancing professionally since 2000, this dynamic duo have taught and performed at salsa congresses, festivals and cruises throughout the US and internationally. Nick and Serena are also the organizers of the famed San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival that takes place every February and the historic Hotel Whitcomb. 

DJ Walt Digz:
For over a decade DJ Walt Digz has been one of the most requested salsa, timba and reggaeton DJs in Northern California. Walt Digz’s great song selections, mixing skills and ability to elevate the mood of any dance venue keeps him in heavy rotation at numerous Bay Area clubs and dance festivals.

About the Winery Partners:
- Ceja Vineyards is an ultra-premium Latino family owned winery founded by Amelia, Pedro, Armando and Martha Ceja – first generation Mexican-American winegrowers in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

- Campesino Cellars produces Rhone style wines from select single vineyards in California. Their wines are not only a reflection of those who tend the vineyards, but they also express the qualities inherited from their site specific locations.

- Mi Sueño, which translates to "my dream," is a micro-production winery that produces high-end wines from both the Napa and Sonoma valleys. Founded in 1997 by Mexican immigrant Rolando Herrera, it has grown from 200 cases of Chardonnay annually to its current production of approximately 8,000 cases.

- Robledo Family Winery produces a diversified portfolio of ultra-premium wines from Sonoma, Napa and Lake Counties. A member of the Robledo family is on hand to greet you as you enter their tasting room and will proudly share their family's’ journey to achieving the “True American Dream”.

- Maldonado Family Vineyards is a small-production winery located in Calistoga, a beautifully quaint town in the Napa Valley. In 1961 Lupe Maldonado moved to California from the small farming community of Atacheo, Michoacan, Mexico. In 1998, Lupe bought and developed a 10-acre vineyard in Napa. His son Hugo, a graduate in Viticulture and Enology from the UC Davis, now oversees the making of their limited production wines. 

About the Promoter:
Dance Papi is the best place on the web to learn salsa and hand percussion online for free. Like Dance Papi's facebook page for updates on future events: facebook.com/dancepapi

Behind The Scenes: Bottling New Ceja Vintages

Exciting week! We bottled a variety of Ceja wines and are delighted to share with you these balanced, approachable and food friendly new vintages. Take a peek behind the scenes and what goes into bottling. Each wine was perfectly handcrafted by our winemaking team, Armando and Belen Ceja. Stay tuned for each new wine release over the next few months. Salud!

Coming Soon | New Wine Releases
2016 Reserva Carneros Chardonnay
2016 Vino de Casa White Blend (Arneis & Chardonnay blend)
2017 Bella Flor Rosé
2016 Carneros Pinot Noir
2016 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

P.S. Which one are you excited to try?!

America The Great Cookbook

America The Great Cookbook | Holiday Gift Idea!

We are honored to be included in it! What is American food? America The Great Cookbook's editor Joe Yonan of the Washington Post says, "American food is native food, and it is immigrant food.” Please read Diane Peterson's wonderful write-up on the Press Democrat highlighting Amelia Ceja's Chilaquiles and Coconut Oatmeal recipes. Recipe book raises funds for the Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. It's the ideal gift paired with Ceja wine for all foodies and winos this holiday season!

1). Read Press Democrat Article

2). Buy America The Great Cookbook on Amazon

For your holiday needs, we invite you to share the love with a gift of Ceja Vineyards estate grown wines – they make every occasion memorable. Purchase online today! With warmest wishes for the holiday season and gratitude for your support throughout the year.

Happy Holidays!

Ceja Vineyards Reopens + Wine Country Recovery

Dear Friends:

We’re touched by the outpouring of concern, well wishes and support we’ve received over the past 10 days. We’re fortunate our family and our Ceja team members and their families are safe and our properties were not affected by the wildfires. We extend our deepest appreciation to the brave firefighters, first responders and community members for their tireless efforts.

We’re pleased to announce our wine tasting salon in Sonoma will reopen tomorrow, October 20th, at 11:00am. We encourage you to visit us to enjoy our delicious wines and legendary hospitality and please also support our wine country community in the Napa and Sonoma counties.

In a continued effort to raise funds to support all those impacted by these tragic fires, Ceja Vineyards will be donating 25% of online wine sales from October 19th to October 31th, to the Napa Valley Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the Sonoma County Community Foundation Resilience Fund.

We’re grateful for your friendship and loyalty and we look forward to hosting you in our beautiful valleys soon! Wine country welcomes you back!

¡Salud!

Amelia Morán Ceja, President

Napa and Sonoma Fire Update from Ceja Vineyards

Dear Friends & Family of our Wine Country Community,

On behalf of the whole Ceja Vineyards team, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the devastating North Bay wildfires. Thank you so much for your encouraging messages over the past three days. Your words of concern and kindness have been beyond heart-warming for us during this difficult time.

We are relieved and thankful to share with you that our team and families are safe. Our buildings and vineyards have also been miraculously spared. 

The news throughout our beloved wine valleys is heartbreaking. We are incredibly grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders working day and night to keep us and our loved ones safe. 

Ceja Vineyards is regrouping and we will be announcing a benefit soon to support those affected when the ash settles.

If you’d like to help, please consider donating to organizations that are on the ground working tirelessly to support those affected. Some include:

Napa Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) Disaster Relief Fund

Redwood Credit Union (RCU) Community Fund

100% of your donations will go directly to assist those affected by the fires.

Thank you again for your support, compassion, and kindness.

Sincerely,

The Ceja Vineyards Team