PHOTO BY BEX WYANT
Stanford graduate who , along with his college buddies , was quite familiar with the wine country in and around Napa and Sonoma .
Beyond the vineyards and tasting gatherings at Anaba Wines , another aspect is gaining in popularity and earning rave reviews from its participants : pickleball . Can you think of a better way to sip your favorite Chardonnay or Pinot than while basking in the warm California sun on the pickleball court at Anaba Wines ?
“ Four years ago , during the development of our new hospitality facility , my son convinced me ( we had always been a tennis-playing family ) that we should build a paddle tennis court in addition to our bocce court , because that sport was really going to take off in Northern California , like it had in Southern California ,” recalled Sweazey . “ Well , we were half right that a small court sport was going to take off , but it turned out to be pickleball , not paddle tennis . Fortunately , all it took was a higher net and different lines to pretend we knew what we were doing all along !”
Someone who certainly knows what she is doing around a pickleball court is Krishna Raichura , owner of Pickleball Organized . Raichura contacted Anaba and offered the winery the idea of serving up pickleball while satisfying one ’ s palate with wine . Sweazey and company liked the idea , and Anaba Wines has quickly become a favorite spot for pickleball and wine enthusiasts .
Raichura started playing pickleball during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and found that her passion for the game led her to become a Certified Pro Instructor : “ I found people ’ s enthusiasm for pickleball matched my own , and this led me to start Pickleball Organized .”
Pickleball Organized recently partnered with the City of Sausalito and Cañon Swim & Tennis Club , along with Novato Park and Recreation — all in Marin County — to organize their pickleball programs starting in January 2023 . Through the partnership with Pickleball
Organized , Anaba Wines offers numerous “ experiences ” for patrons . “ Our first experience includes an exclusive 90-minute pickleball lesson while enjoying a bottle of wine next to our Picpoul Vineyard . The second experience offers a 90-minute pickleball lesson followed by a wine educator , led wine tasting and a cheese board . Lastly , for guests seeking something more elevated , they can enjoy a 90-minute pickleball lesson and then finish the experience with a food and wine paired lunch ,” said Lindsay Knox , Event Coordinator for Anaba Wines .
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLOWERS AND GRAPES MAGAZINE
As the only wine and pickleball combo attraction in Wine Country , there most likely will be more vineyards and wineries taking Anaba ’ s lead , and Raichura firmly believes that the experience at Anaba will be unmatched . “ Sonoma Valley , which is adjacent to Marin County , is world-renowned for its wine and vineyards . Sonoma Valley ’ s picturesque landscape and beauty attracts visitors from all over the world , and with pickleball now combined with this beautiful vineyard backdrop , [ it ] simply offers a breathtaking and unique experience ,” she said .
Many guests who have experienced pickleball and wine at Anaba enthusiastically echo Raichura ’ s sentiments . “ The setting is absolutely gorgeous , playing pickleball in the middle of vineyards , with views in all directions ,” described Kirsten Neff of Novato , California . “ Krishna ’ s clinics are highly instructive , but playful and joyful at the same time . Then we sat outside , wine tasting , talking pickleball and life , relaxing and laughing . The whole day was perfect .”
Introducing the sport of pickleball to his winery is still in the evolutionary phase for Sweazey , but he will be the first one to admit that more fun is on the way at his sprawling Sonoma property while still maintaining high quality and continued admiration from the wine industry : “ Though our wines have won numerous awards , earning the respect of both the public and the
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2023 | MAGAZINE 33