Southern California gets first wine and pickleball tournament

Grape Night will stage Sip ’n Dink on Aug. 1, 2026, at The Tennis & Pickleball Club at Newport Beach, pairing 80 players with 10 winery teams for a round-robin competition and Grand Tasting. The one-day event raises money for Miracles for Kids and brings together wineries from California, Washington and New Zealand.

Why it matters: - Sip ’n Dink is built as a charity event, with a portion of ticket proceeds and every ticket sold supporting Miracles for Kids. - The format connects two growing social categories — pickleball and wine tasting — into one event designed to draw players, winemakers and supporters. - The fundraiser supports an Orange County nonprofit that helps families facing financial hardship, housing instability, food insecurity and other burdens tied to a child’s medical crisis.

What happened: - Grape Night announced Sip ’n Dink, described as Southern California’s first Wine & Pickleball Tournament. - The event is set for Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at The Tennis & Pickleball Club at Newport Beach. - The one-day program combines competitive pickleball, premium wine, food and philanthropy. - The event will pair players with winery teams before play begins. - Players will be drafted onto 10 winery teams for a round-robin tournament. - The tournament will end with a Grand Tasting featuring wines from every participating winery.

The details: - Participating wineries include Lone Madrone, Whitehall Lane, The Landing, Salvestrin, AJA Vineyards, Chappellet, Foundry Vineyards, Brasswood, Bianchi and John Anthony Vineyards. - The winery teams represent Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Malibu Coast, Walla Walla and New Zealand. - Each winery team will have its own colors, winemaker representation and wines featured during the Grand Tasting. - The field includes 80 players competing for the inaugural Sip N’ Dink Cup. - Event highlights include a live, on-site podcast studio hosted by presenting sponsor The Raad Life. - Additional event features include The Elwood Club athlete lounge, a CRBN paddle giveaway for the winning team, a Fletcher Jones Motorcars showcase, a live DJ, and food and hydration throughout the day. - The event schedule lists team formation and warmups at 1 p.m., tournament competition at 2 p.m., awards at 4 p.m. and the Grand Tasting from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Tickets and player registration cost $200 and include tournament entry, Grand Tasting admission, food and refreshments, athlete lounge access and the awards ceremony. - Spectator and Grand Tasting passes cost $125 and include tournament viewing, Grand Tasting admission, food and refreshments and the awards ceremony. - Tickets are available while supplies last. - Additional information is available at GrapeNight.com.

Between the lines: - The event is positioned as more than a standard sports tournament or wine festival. - Grape Night is trying to turn wine tasting into a more interactive, social format built around competition and conversation. - The lineup of wineries from multiple regions suggests the event is aiming for a broader draw than a typical local charity tournament. - Founder Naushad Huda said the crossover feels natural because wine lovers and pickleball players tend to be active, social and competitive.

What's next: - Organizers will draft players onto winery teams before the Aug. 1 tournament. - The day will conclude with the Grand Tasting and awards ceremony. - The first annual Sip ’n Dink is expected to become a recurring event if the launch succeeds. - Grape Night is also promoting the event and related content through its social channels, including Instagram and LinkedIn.