Yes, I have taken up pickleball.
I already play tennis and ping pong, and I find pickleball falls somewhere in the middle. My biggest challenge? Remembering not to give the ball my big tennis swing. Pickleball calls for a little more restraint and finesse.
Which got me thinking…what wine do you pair with pickleball?
Napa Cellars 2025 Sauvignon Blanc.
It’s a perfect match. Pun intended.
Sauvignon Blanc With a Pickleball Personality
Think about it this way: a racy, high-acid New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc feels more like tennis to me—fast, powerful, energetic and ready to charge the net.
The Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc is different. It still has that bright acidity Sauvignon Blanc is known for, but it doesn’t overpower you. There’s energy and freshness, but also restraint.
Kind of like the swing you need in pickleball.
This is a beautiful California Sauvignon Blanc—clean, fresh and bright, with a softer expression of acidity. There’s a wonderful briny, lemony quality running through the wine, accompanied by subtle hints of tropical fruit.
What I especially like is how the flavor carries through the entire mouthfeel. That fresh lemon and briny character doesn’t disappear after the first sip. The wine finishes much the way it begins—clean, bright and refreshing.
What’s for Dinner?
That lemony, slightly saline character immediately had me thinking about seafood. Oysters and clams would be fantastic with this wine. The wine’s acidity would brighten the shellfish while that briny note would make the pairing feel almost effortless.
But tonight, we’re pairing it with lemon basil pesto and broccoli rabe, and I think it’s going to be a great combination. The citrus in the wine should play beautifully with the lemon basil, while the acidity will help balance the slight bitterness of the broccoli rabe.
And after a few games of pickleball, dinner and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc sound pretty darn good.
Wine of the Week
Napa Cellars 2025 Sauvignon Blanc
In the glass: Bright, clean and refreshing with lemon, a touch of brininess, subtle tropical fruit and lively—but not overpowering—acidity.
Pair it with: Oysters, clams, seafood, lemon basil pesto, fresh herbs, vegetables—or apparently, pickleball.
Who knew wine and sports could be such a perfect match?
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