Pickleball Meets Wine: In an unexpected yet harmonious blend, pickleball and wine have been brought together by Va Piano’s owner and winemaker, Justin Wylie, and artist Ben Joyce. Their wine collaboration, born from a shared history and mutual admiration, represents a unique fusion of their passions.
A Shared Journey
Wylie and Joyce first encountered each other at Gonzaga University, where they shared a mentor and studied abroad in Florence, Italy. Their paths diverged after graduation, but their vision for a collaborative project remained steadfast. Wylie pursued his dream of establishing a vineyard in Walla Walla, WA, while Joyce continued to hone his craft as an artist. Their reunion on this project symbolized more than just a creative endeavor; it embodied a long-held aspiration.
“I paint the connection of place, and Justin makes incredible wine, so merging on this pickleball wine project was perfect,” Joyce remarked, reflecting on their artistic synergy.
Blending Passions
Joyce’s abstract artwork for the pickleball-themed wine captures the essence of Bainbridge Island, WA, rendered from an aerial perspective. Intriguingly, a small pickleball icon subtly appears in the city where the sport originated. Joyce’s intention was clear: “I realized that if I painted from an aerial perspective and gave an individual lines that they can connect with, they can populate that with all of their experience and connection.”
Wylie, in a gesture of deep respect for Joyce’s work, opted to forgo the usual winery label on the bottle. “His artwork just floats on the bottle. That’s the first and only thing you see. And as you pick it up, you hold it, turn it around, you start to learn more about what it is,” Wylie explained. “I wanted to really preserve and honor his artwork.”
The Wine Itself
The wine itself, a blend crafted by Wylie, is a testament to his winemaking expertise. Composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, with a nuanced balance of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a hint of Malbec, the result is a robust yet smooth wine. “It’s showing beautifully today, so I’m pretty proud of it,” Wylie added, clearly pleased with the outcome.
A Labor of Love
For Wylie, the project represents more than just a bottle of wine. “There’s so much more in a bottle of wine than just the wine,” he asserted. “When people open it, they’re usually with their group of people that play pickleball. When they’re together, they open it, and sit around telling all their best stories. It’s a great connector at the end of the day to bring people together with art, wine, and their stories.”
As pickleball enthusiasts toast with this unique bottle, it’s clear that Wylie and Joyce have not only created a product but have woven together a rich tapestry of passion, art, and communal experience.
News in Brief: Pickleball Meets Wine
Va Piano’s owner and winemaker, Justin Wylie, and artist Ben Joyce have collaborated on a unique pickleball-themed wine project. Their shared history from Gonzaga University and a mutual admiration for each other’s work led to this creative endeavor. Joyce’s abstract artwork, featuring Bainbridge Island, WA, adorns the wine bottle, with Wylie choosing to forego the usual winery label to honor Joyce’s art. The wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. This project symbolizes their combined passions for wine, art, and pickleball, aiming to connect people through these shared experiences.
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