Kendall-Jackson Wines, the official wine partner of the NBA, has expanded its collaboration with the league by unveiling co-branded bottles designed by celebrated artist Victor Solomon.
Announced Monday, the partnership with Solomon officially kicked off Friday at the NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco where the Santa Rosa winery is hosting a series of events. The wines — a Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County, a Chardonnay blend from Monterey County and a Sauvignon Blanc from Lake County — will be released in August.
Kendall-Jackson, known for producing America’s bestselling Chardonnay, was connected with Solomon through the NBA, which had previously worked with the artist.
Jackson Family Wines, which owns Kendall-Jackson, signed a four-and-a-half-year partnership deal with the NBA in April 2024. That arrangement also includes La Crema in Windsor, which is the official partner of the WNBA. Both wineries also represent USA Basketball’s men’s and women’s teams.
“When we partnered with the NBA, we set out to uniquely blend the culture of wine with the excitement of the game,” said Chris Jackson, coproprietor of Kendall-Jackson, in a press release. “We are excited to partner with Victor Solomon and bring his extraordinary talents in connecting art with sports culture to the look of our first NBA co-branded wines.”
Solomon, best known for designing the NBA’s Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, brings his artistic vision to the project. His past work includes the “Literally Balling” series, which uses stained glass to reimagine basketball imagery. Recent projects include a Swarovski crystal basketball installation for the NBA’s 75th anniversary celebration and his “Journey” sculpture series, which explores the evolution of the game through iconic materials.
“My work has always been about elevating the artistry within sport,” said Solomon in a press release. “Partnering with Kendall-Jackson allows me to extend that vision by creating and celebrating a shared spirit of craftsmanship.”
Amid falling U.S. wine sales, the partnership between Jackson Family Wines and the NBA is leveraging Americans’ passion for sports and the relationship between Wine Country and pro basketball — many players are wine connoisseurs, frequent Sonoma and Napa wineries and even have their own labels — to reach a wider audience.
During the NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco (Feb. 14-16), Kendall-Jackson will host several activities and events at the NBA Crossover fan experience at the Moscone Center. The winery is also part of events at San Francisco’s Pier 70 with a pop-up wine bar and an All-Star watch party (Feb. 16).
Purchase tickets and find more information about the NBA All-Star Weekend and NBA Crossover at nbaevents.nba.com/nba-crossover.