The Color of Wine Presents: Dalia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards

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

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