NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Kendall-Jackson Winery today announced a multiyear partnership, making Kendall-Jackson the Official Wine of the NBA and USA Basketball and La Crema the Official Wine of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Kendall-Jackson and La Crema have also been named the Official Wine Partners of USA Basketball’s men’s and women’s national teams, respectively.  The multiyear agreement marks the leagues’ first-ever official winery partnerships.

The NBA’s collaboration with Kendall-Jackson, the family-owned winery based in California, officially links the worlds of fine wine and basketball, celebrating the brands’ shared commitments to excellence and community.  Kendall-Jackson will have a presence at league marquee events including through elevated experiences, wine tastings and opportunities for players, coaches and fans to learn about and appreciate wine in new and engaging ways.

Kendall-Jackson will serve as the presenting partner of the NBA Experiences Dinner Series, an exclusive, ticketed fan opportunity offered at marquee NBA events.  The brand will also become an associate partner for the second-annual NBA Con, the league’s immersive fan event held this summer alongside NBA 2K Summer League, showcasing a commitment to blend the world of wine with the excitement of basketball. Both experiences will provide attendees an opportunity to explore wine through pop-up tasting rooms.  The brand will also collaborate with the league to host additional tastings and experiential showcases at NBA All-Star and will have the opportunity to produce commemorative wine bottles and gift product to NBA players.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kendall-Jackson to the family as the NBA’s official wine partner and look forward to future collaborations across the broad portfolio of Jackson Family Wines brands,” said Julie Morris, NBA Senior Vice President of Commercial Development and Media. “This collaboration recognizes the dynamic interests of our players and fans and uniquely blends the culture of wine with the excitement of the game.”

“Our partnership with the NBA is a natural extension of our shared values and our commitment to embracing the evolving landscape of culture and taste,” said Chris Jackson, Co-Proprietor for Kendall-Jackson. “It’s about enriching the fan experience by blending the passion for the game with the artistry of winemaking. As we embark on this exciting journey together, we are setting the stage for a future where wine converges in unexpected and exhilarating ways.”

The origin of the partnership dates to 2020 during the NBA Restart at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL.  During the pandemic when players, coaches, and staff completed the 2020-21 season inside the “Bubble”, Kendall-Jackson recognized the league’s expanding interest in wine and conducted virtual wine tastings and educational sessions to reaffirm the importance of community and shared experiences.

Additionally, Kendall-Jackson will be the exclusive wine of USA Basketball’s 50^th Anniversary event. The winery’s first vines were planted in 1974, the year USA Basketball was founded.

Kendall-Jackson is part of Jackson Family Wines, a global wine portfolio that spans California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada in North America as well as Italy, France, South Africa, Chile, and Australia and includes acclaimed wineries like La Crema, Penner-Ash, Freemark Abbey, Stonestreet and Vérité. In addition to Kendall-Jackson’s partnership with the NBA and USA Basketball, the Jackson Family’s La Crema winery, located in Russian River Valley, the heart of Sonoma County, will be the official wine of the WNBA, celebrating a shared dedication to fostering inclusivity and recognizing the achievements of women.

For more information on the WNBA partnership with La Crema, click here.  Learn more about Kendall-Jackson at www.kj.com/NBA and follow Kendall-Jackson on all social platforms with handle @KJWines.

About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2023-24 season featured a record 125 international players from 40 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.

About Kendall-Jackson
Kendall-Jackson is a family-owned and operated winery leading the super-premium wine market through ingenuity, investment in preeminent vineyards and relentless commitment to fine wine quality. Since planting its first vines in 1974 by founder Jess Jackson, Kendall-Jackson has built an inimitable reputation as one of the most trusted, iconic brands in the wine industry. Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens is Sonoma County’s premier wine and culinary destination. Home to critically acclaimed wines, including America’s #1 selling Chardonnay, Vintner’s Reserve, the estate boasts a stunning four-acre culinary garden filled with a bountiful array of local and rare produce, offering visitors a picturesque setting to every wine experience. The brand’s success has been firmly rooted in a strident commitment to an outstanding pedigree of vineyards. As a leader in sustainable vineyard and winery practices, including water and energy conservation, 100 percent of Kendall-Jackson’s vineyards are third party certified by CCSW (Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing).