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.

 

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

Learn How to Make Zesty Pizza with Dalia Ceja

It's pizza time folks! Dalia Ceja, Sales & Marketing Manager at Ceja Vineyards shares one of her favorite pizza incarnations made with fresh and zesty ingredients. Paired with Ceja Vineyards Vino de Casa Red Blend, this delectable dish will have you singing "Mozzarella!"

 

Sweet and Savory Open Face Sandwich by Dalia Ceja

Try something new with one of Dalia Ceja's exciting new culinary creations - a savory open face sandwich with golden baked cinnamon bread topped with spicy jalapeño pepper jack cheese. Pair it with a glass of Ceja Chardonnay and you're on your way to a sensory epiphany!

 

A Grape Adventure in South America

Who new a bottle of Ceja Pinot Noir could be the perfect travelling Gnome? Dalia Ceja talks about her trip to South America she recently went on along with her trusted vino. Both Dalia and bottle embarked many adventures. Enjoy!

 

Cooking Spicy Chicken Empanadas with Dalia Ceja

Argentina lives! Inspired by her recent trip to Argentina, Dalia Ceja cooks up some delicious spicy empanadas. In this video the filling of choice is chicken but feel free to use whatever you like. ¡Que bárbaro!