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| Bocce ball court at Ceja Vineyards |
A visit to Ceja Vineyards in Napa, California is not your typical Napa wine tasting adventure. I visited recently on a field trip as part of a teacher workshop on the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. that we hosted at my former workplace, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park. We were lucky to meet Pablo and Juanita Ceja, who shared the moving decades-long story of their family's transition from rural Mexico, to world class vineyard and winery ownership in Napa Valley.
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| Pablo Ceja and Madeline |
Pablo and Juanita welcomed our group with open arms on their rancho/vineyard. Pablo told us how he came to the U.S. in the 1960s to work for five consecutive years as part of the Bracero Program, which paired Mexican workers with American farm owners to work temporarily and legally in American fields. After five years in the Bracero Program, Pablo was able to legally bring his family, including Juanita and their six small children, to Napa Valley to live. When they came to the U.S. Juanita had never left Mexico before. Housing was so scarce in Napa in 1967 that the family was forced to occupy a condemned house that allowed rain in through the roof, soaking the kids during the night and devastating Juanita. The large size of their family put them at a disadvantage since no one wanted to rent to a couple with six children. Soon their were seven, and eventually ten little Cejas, raised in Napa Valley, by very hard working parents who had a dream for their children, that they would have land of their own and flourish in their adopted country.
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| Wine grapes at Ceja Vineyard |
Pablo misted up while explaining that everything he had done with his remarkable life had been
with the sole purpose of bettering the lives of his children. He is so
proud that each and every one has grown up to be
successful in their chosen field. I was moved to tears by his heartfelt
declaration of love and pride for his family. Pablo and Juanita's hard work and dedication to their children
has created a world of opportunity for their clan. The Ceja's have a
winning combination of strong work ethic, courage to dream big, and
family support. Sitting on their Mediterranean-style rancho, surrounded by vineyards, olive trees, bocce ball courts, I admired the paradise they had created for their family.
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| Juanita and Amelia Ceja |
In 1983 the two oldest sons, Pedro and Armando, Pedro's wife Amelia, and
Pablo and Juanita purchased their first 15 acres of land in the Carneros area of
Napa. They planted the land with grapes, which they sold to other
wineries. Eventually, the family established their own winery, Ceja
Vineyards. By 2012, they've expanded their acreage to 113. They still
sell some grapes to other wineries, but they also proudly make their own
wine, which is changing the face of Napa Valley wines in exciting and
unexpected ways.
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| Pablo Ceja tells his story |
Amelia Ceja, President of Ceja Vineyards, explained their mission to create wines that pair well with Latin American and Asian flavors, reflecting the thriving diverse cultures of California. Amelia was born in Mexico and came to Napa as a child. She is a chef and wine expert. As she pointed out, in an industry dominated by northern European middle aged men crafting wine to pair with Mediterranean food, she is an anomaly. She gushed over pairing Chardonnay with popcorn. Ceja Vineyards' unique flavor profile has garnered them lots of attention in the industry. Ceja Vineyards wine was served at Obama's inauguration in Washington D.C. Amelia was also chosen as "Woman of the Year" in 2005 by the California Legislature. Amelia the powerhouse told us about the family's restaurant in downtown Napa, Bistro Sabor, featuring Mexican street food and salsa dancing. Amelia's daughter Dalia, Director of Sales and Marketing for the winery, heralds a new generation of strong Ceja women.
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| Amelia Ceja offers a taste in the tasting room. |
Pablo wasn't content to simply host our group at his rancho. He jumped to joined us for the Napa Chef's Market downtown afterwards so he could bring teachers to his family's popular Bistro Sabor and continue the conversation. He exuded warmth and hospitality.
As impressive as it is, an incredible back story does not a successful business make. Yet, the Cejas seem to have all their bases covered. Their wines are both excellent and affordable. They also radiate warmth, making customers feel beyond welcome, almost like part of their family. The Cejas appears poised to take over the world as tastemakers, while keeping family at the heart of everything they do.
The rancho/vineyard is currently open only to Ceja Vineyards wine club members, but they have plans to build a Mission style tasting room on the rancho, which will be open to the public.
Ceja Vineyards' public tasting room is located at 1248 1st Street, Napa, CA 94559.
Phone 707-255-3954
www.cejavineyards.com
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