NEWBERG, Ore. — A Newberg restaurateur and a Willamette Valley pickleball pro have teamed up to launch a new venture that blends two of the region’s fastest-growing passions: pickleball and wine.
Jessica Bagley, co-owner of The Painted Lady Restaurant in Newberg, and Wesley “Wes” Gabrielsen, a McMinnville-based professional pickleball player and coach, have founded Willamette Valley Wine & Pickle, a curated full-day experience for pickleball players that combines on-court instruction, a catered lunch, and a private winery tasting.
“We’ve got this amazing area here,” Bagley said. “Why not just do something in our neck of the woods that incorporates what makes the area special?”
Pickleball has seen a particular boom in Newberg, with local investment in the sport. The tennis courts at Jaquith Park are in the final stages of redevelopment, transitioning the site’s four existing courts into six dedicated pickleball courts, two mixed-use courts, and two tennis courts. Additional courts have been proposed at Renne Field, where construction is planned for next summer.
Newberg was even featured in The New York Times on the subject; Chehalem Parks and Recreation District Director Nick Konen was quoted in the article discussing how pickleball has taken over thousands of tennis courts around the country.
“It just seems like the boom is huge,” Bagley said. “You don’t see it stopping anytime soon. I love it so much. It’s so fun to incorporate what I do and what I love with where I live.”
The experience is structured around a Saturday format on private courts, accommodating a maximum of eight participants. The day begins with a two-hour clinic led by Gabrielsen, followed by an hour of structured round-robin play with feedback. Afterward, guests are treated to an elevated luncheon catered by The Painted Lady before caravanning to a local boutique winery for a private tasting. Bagley said participants should plan for roughly seven hours.
Gabrielsen is one of the most decorated players in professional pickleball history. He is an 11-time USA Pickleball National Champion, a six-time Canadian National Champion, a two-time U.S. Open Champion, and a 2022 inductee into the Pickleball Hall of Fame. He also served as head coach of the Austin Pickleballers in Major League Pickleball. Bagley said Gabrielsen previously taught tennis at McMinnville High School and has deep ties to Yamhill County.
Bagley, who has more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, said she only picked up a paddle about two years ago but was quickly hooked. She began taking lessons with Gabrielsen, and the two started developing the concept together.
“I finally just made myself go and try it, and I loved it just as much as I thought I would,” she said.
Bagley said the experience is open to everyone but is intended primarily for visitors coming from outside the Willamette Valley. The pickleball community, she said, is one willing to travel for tournaments or unique experiences, as evidenced by organizations like Pickleball in Paradise, which offers clinics, cruises, and open play in destinations from Alaska to the Caribbean.
“People are already traveling all around the country or world for pickleball tournaments,” Bagley said, adding that she plans to travel to the Fasenra Sacramento Open this week. “It feels like that’s just going to continue at this point. We wanted to make sure there was an opportunity for our area to be on the map for pickleball.”
Dates for 2026 are scheduled for May 23, June 20, July 18, and August 22, and cost $450 for a single-day experience. The experience is open to players at the 3.0 (intermediate), 3.5, and 4.0 (advanced) skill levels. Private group bookings are also available on other dates, provided a minimum of eight participants can be assembled.
More information and booking are available at wvwineandpickle.com.
