The Color of Wine Presents: Dalia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards

Explicit content warning

03/21/18 • 78 min

In this Seventh episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Dalia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards! In our conversation we talked about:

Mole and Cabernet Sauvignon
La Tapatia
The Ceja Family Legacy
Bubbles!
So much more!

Dalia’s Bio Dalia Ceja has been surrounded by wine, food and travel her entire life. She may have grown up in the wine industry but she comes from very humble beginnings. In the late 1960’s her grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, worked in the vineyards and settled in the Napa Valley. With her parents as her role models, hard work and education have been the forefront of Dalia’s drive to excel. In 2008 she graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Marketing & Communications. After graduating from college she departed on a six month “Study Abroad” backpacking journey through South America, learning, exploring and enriching her career with real life experiences. This became the anchor for a blog that she would later launch in 2011. In 2010 she brought her expertise to Ceja Vineyards as the Sales and Marketing Director. “A lot of minority wineries are developing their own style,” she says. “For us, it’s been about family and taking wine to a new level.” And for Dalia, being a Ceja means being part of that evolution, which includes promoting awareness of authentic Mexican cuisine and its subtle, complex flavors—the perfect companion for pairings that yield a new wine experience. “Technology and social media have been a great way to expand our presence,” she says of the tweeting and blogging she does regularly. It is, however, cooking and the Ceja approach to wine and food that continue to be the biggest factor in opening doors. Dalia’s growing role in the culinary world is reflected in the expanding presence of food on the winery’s website, www.cejavineyards.com, and on YouTube, where she has published cooking demonstration videos. In 2011 Dalia was named "Woman of the Year" through the Napa Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for her entrepreneurial leadership and charitable contributions. In May of 2011 she launched her own blog and website – www.daliaceja.com. She highlights her own passions to creatively focus on wine, fashion, food, travel and fiestas! In 2012 she partnered with NakedWines.com as a consulting winemaker and launched her own wines under the La Tapatia wine label exclusively selling a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and is currently on her 5th wine vintage. “You’re never too young or too old to explore your passions,” says Dalia, who is grateful to her parents for encouraging her to do just that. In 2014 she graduated from Sonoma State University and received her M.B.A. in Wine Marketing and Business. With her personal flare and her passion for fashion, wine, cooking and travel, Dalia is set to leave her mark. The Last Five Sips:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? A bottle of Moet Chandon Grand Cru
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Frida Kahlo
What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Because of her job, Dalia reads to unwind. The last book she read was: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Follow your passion. If you love what you do and have a passion for it, you will never have to work a day in your life
When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Gypsy Kings – per Alexa

How you can connect with Dalia online and on Social Media: Online: https://www.daliaceja.com Online: https://www.cejavineyards.com/ Facebook: @cejavineyards and @daliaceja Instagram: @cejavineyards and @daliaceja Instagram: @cejavineyards and @daliaceja Twitter: @cejavineyards and @daliaceja Pinterest: @cejavineyards YouTube: @cejavineyards Resource Links: https://www.visitmexico.com/en/main-destinations/jalisco https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/salud-mexican-american-wine-revolution-180964217/ http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/mrs-ceja-goes-to-washington-smithsonian-shines-a-spotlight-on/article_f67e4b79-5677-5300-b5a6-e2dd32e2149c.html https://us.nakedwines.com/products/la-tapatia-pinot-noir-carneros-2016

In this Seventh episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Dalia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards! In our conversation we talked about:

Mole and Cabernet Sauvignon
La Tapatia
The Ceja Family Legacy
Bubbles!
So much more!

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? A bottle of Moet Chandon Grand Cru
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Frida Kahlo
What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Because of her job, Dalia reads to unwind. The last book she read was: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Follow your passion. If you love what you do and have a passion for it, you will never have to work a day in your life
When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Gypsy Kings – per Alexa

Previous Episode

The Color of Wine presents: Paul Charles of Charles Wine Company

In this fifth episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Paul Charles of Charles Wine Company! In our conversation we talked about:

Being one of 16 children!
Wine Kits
Jungle Juice
Lodi, CA
So much more!

Paul’s Bio: The Los Angeles-based Charles Wine Company was founded by Paul Charles, De’Ondre Charles and Dr. Cherise Moore in 2012 and launched its first label in 2014. Their dream started in 2007 with a trip to Temecula Valley Wine Country for wine tasting, which lead them to the cellar with the winemaker/owner doing a barrel tasting. This introduction sparked Paul’s interest to purchase his first premium wine kit, which began their journey. After a few successful bottles, Paul decided to convert his backyard into a small vineyard, growing a few rows of Cabernet and Zinfandel. The grapes were crushed by hand to produce our first bottle of wine. Paul landed a side job in the industry and began to work for a large wine producer selling their Boutique wines along the California Coast in large box store outlets. Then after, Paul started his own Wine Broker service (Varietal Wine Brokers) and distributed premium/boutique wines for five wineries. The Team took two weeks to travel across the United States visiting wineries from Florida to California. Then after they started their journey abroad, stopping off in Spain, France, Switzerland, Greece and Italy. They also made it a priority to meet and work with winemakers at their various stops, whose passion rubbed off on Paul enough he decided to launch their own label. The Last Five Sips:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? The most expensive wines in Bordeaux and sharing them with Friends
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Grandmother, Father and President Obama
What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Being “in the field” and out there talking to people
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Keep moving and don’t’ settle!
When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? West Coast Rap (Ice Cube, Kendrick Lamar) and R&B

How you can connect with Paul online and on Social Media: Online: https://charleswineco.com/ Instagram: @charleswineco Email: [email protected] Resource Links: https://www.goldenstarvineyards.com/shop-wine http://www.lodiwine.com/ https://www.winemakersdepot.com/Wine-Kits-Listed-by-Brand-C39.aspx?gclid=Cj0KCQjwkKPVBRDtARIsAA2CG6Fj3IDL-mvsPGl62t4IUt-Mb2cBx7tp44PfEB22_aU26z06Jv_cILEaAqy1EALw_wcB

Next Episode

The Color of Wine Presents: Alisha Calvert

In this our eighth and final episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Alisha Calvert! In our conversation we talked about:

Rosé Rosé Rosé
Somm Slam
Wince Certification Exams
Blind Tasting
So much more!

Alisha’s Bio Alisha Blackwell-Calvert, a St. Louis native, began working in restaurants in 2004 after studying Equestrian Science and Biology at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. In 2007, her passion grew for wine and food pairing while waiting tables at fine seafood restaurant Oceano Bistro in Clayton, MO. Blackwell-Calvert was inspired to continue learning and decided to pursue a career in wine sales. She began her rep career with Ionia Atlantic Imports in 2012, where Italian wine became a specialty, followed by wholesale distributor Vintegrity Wine & Spirits in 2015. It was in early 2017 when Reeds American Table approached her with a Sommelier position. Reeds American Table, where she is the current Beverage Director, has received Wine Enthusiast Magazine's award for Top 100 Wine Restaurants two years in a row, the single St. Louis restaurant listed in 2017. Feast Magazine has named her a "Raising Star" for 2018. Alisha is a Certified Sommelier and received the 2015 Walter Clore Certified Sommelier Scholarship for top score at the Kansas City exam that July. She also attained the Certified Specialist of Wine certification through the Society of Wine Educators in early 2015 with a 99% score. Blackwell-Calvert is currently preparing to sit for the French Wine Scholar and Advanced Sommelier examinations. In her free time, Alisha enjoys working with draft horses for Brookdale Farms. The Last Five Sips:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Domaine Romanée Conti (DRC) – Pinot Noir
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Beyoncé
What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Guild of Sommeliers Website
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Follow your passion. Save Money – Invest and prepare for a better future
When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Beyoncé, Nirvana, Green Day, Alicia Keys, Chris Cornell, Marilyn Manson