• by Teresa Buyikian , December 27, 2024

What was once thought of as the lazy man’s tennis has become one of the most popular sports in the U.S.: pickleball. According to the most recent APP Pickleball Participation Report, the court sport was played by more than 36.5 million people at least once in the last year. With all those eyeballs, it’s no wonder  brands have jumped on board to sponsor the sport’s latest pro tour.

The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) has announced that Bota Box Breeze will become the official wine partner of the 2025 Carvana PPA Tour. The tour features the sport’s top professional pickleball players, with an expected attendance of more than 320,000 spectators.

In addition to being served during the tour, Bota Box Breeze will have a “premium onsite branding,” along with tasting opportunities at all of the tour’s 20+ stops.

"Both light wines and pickleball have exploded in popularity in the last three years, and both appeal to consumers who embrace an active, healthy lifestyle,” said Andrew Blok, marketing director for Bota Box wines, in the announcement. “Bota Box Breeze wines are crafted … with lower calories, alcohol, sugar and carbs compared to traditional wine, and because their packaging is portable and shatterproof, they're the perfect partner to pickleball's social community of players and fans.”

According to the brand, light wine sales are currently growing more than 10% per year. The Breeze brand was launched in 2021 as a light extension of Bota Box, a U.S. wine in a “alternative packaging” (a box vs. a bottle).  The Bota Box Breeze is today available in six varieties in two different packages; a 3-liter box and 500-ml. Tetra-Pak, both of which the brand says are “ideal for pickleball players looking to enjoy refreshing wines on-the-go.”

"The PPA Tour welcomes more than 27,000 amateur pickleball players to compete alongside the best pros in the world,” said George Killebrew, chief revenue officer for the Carvana PPA Tour. “These athletes prioritize their health while enjoying all that life has to offer, so this partnership with Bota Box Breeze wines will be a value-add for all of our participants and spectators who love pickleball."

Additional PPA tour sponsors include Humana, King Eddy Vodka and Baird.