Ceja Vineyards

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!

Napa Valley Harvest Update - White Wines (Repost from NapaVintners.com)

Update on the 2011 Harvest from the Napa Valley Vintners, featuring our very own Armando Ceja! Very informative and beautiful video. Enjoy!

The Napa Valley Vintners is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region.

 

A Look Back at the 2010 Chardonnay Harvest

Footage of the Ceja vineyard crew hard at work picking Chardonnay in the Carneros district of Napa for Ceja Vineyards' 2010 vintage.

 

Beautiful Nighttime Harvest Pictures from Lianne Milton

Bay Area photographer Lianne Milton was gracious enough to allow us to post some photos she had taken from a nighttime harvest shot in October of 2009. Please enjoy! 

Night Harvest - Images by Lianne Milton

In the Cellar Reviewing the 2010 Ceja Chardonnay Vintage with Wine-maker Armando Ceja

Join Armando Ceja, wine-maker and grape grower for Ceja Vineyards, in the cellar as he tastes our yet-to-be-released 2010 Ceja Vineyards Napa Carneros Chardonnay.

 

2010 Napa Carneros Chardonnay Harvest with Armando Ceja

In the early morning hours, winegrower and wine-maker Armando Ceja, takes a look back and reflects upon the latest growing season. Harvest is in full force in the background! Get ready for our 2010 Chardonnay!

 

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.

 

Making Pesto with Dalia Ceja: Part 1

Dalia Ceja prepares homemade pesto in this episode. The flavors are savory and tangy. Ceja Vineyards Vino de Casa Red Blend is called upon to liven things up! 

 

Rewriting the Rules…Beans and Ceja Wine Anyone?

Beans and wine you ask? Well, here at Ceja we get down and grub on the nontraditional food and wine pairings…and why not? Growing up in a Mexican household, beans, tortillas and rice have been a staple of ours since I can remember. They have also played a stereotypical role in American culture that have downgraded the authenticity of beans giving them a bastardized symbol of a poor mans Tex-Mex meal. I happen to think otherwise.

I have been cooking alongside my mom since I was a little girl. I remember standing on a stool next to the kitchen counter using both hands to stir the pot of arroz con 

leche or Mexican hot chocolate, as tantalizing smells of cinnamon and sweetness infiltrated our kitchen. From that moment on I knew that food would always play an integral role in my life where wine would slowly make its grand entrance down the road.

 

However, given that I come from a huge extended family, fiestas and gatherings were always a prominent excuse to bring the goods to the table: homemade tamales, chiles rellenos, sopes, enchiladas, salsas, flan and so much more. Funny enough, there was as much food on the table as there was wine. Yep, more wine than beer or margaritas.

Now, when it comes to pairing wine with Mexican food, the most important rule to remember is to just drink and eat what you like! Although this rings true for many of us, there are some Mexican dishes that just plain taste better with certain wines. Here are some of my foolproof combinations that I absolutely love (all dishes are available under the recipes tab on our website).

*Mole Negro de Oaxaca paired with Ceja Syrah
*Salmon Ceviche paired with Ceja Pinot Noir
*Camarones a la Dalia paired with Ceja Chardonnay

Stay tuned for weekly mouthwatering recipes that will leave you begging for more…

¡Ole!

Dalia Ceja

Wine and Cheese Pairing with Amelia Ceja

Amelia Ceja pairs four of her favorite cheeses from around the world with wines from Ceja Vineyards. Humbolt Fog, Petit Basque, Mimolette and Cambozola take center stage!