The Limited Edition Batch Was Inspired by Triathlon’s Three Disciplines – Swim, Bike, Run – With Special Events and Activations Scheduled to Celebrate a Summer of Sport
Colorado Springs, CO – May 25th, 2021 – The Vice Wine, in partnership with the USA Triathlon Foundation, today announced the release of their limited edition triathlon-inspired “The Tri” 2019 with a portion of proceeds being donated to the USA Triathlon Foundation in support of its mission, which is to transform lives through sport by providing opportunities to swim, bike and run.
The Vice Wine co-founder and winemaker Malek Amrani is a multi-time member of USA Triathlon’s amateur Team USA and a USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassador. Amrani, passionate about sharing his love of both multisports and wine, combined those interests to create the specially crafted Tri Blend.
“The Tri” is the one and only wine blend by The Vice Wine, known for single varietal luxury Napa Valley Wines. The limited release wine is based on triathlon’s three disciplines, with the 2019 vintage inspired by 2016 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team Member Joe Maloy and his race at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. The blend is made from 18% Cabernet Franc, 52% St. Laurent and 30% Malbec to celebrate Maloy’s time spent on each discipline (swim, bike, run), respectively. Maloy is a longtime friend and daily mentor to Amrani.
“It is an honor to be able to collide the two vices that I am most passionate about. I am eternally grateful to The USA Triathlon Foundation and to the athletes and future athletes that have inspired “The Tri” blends and will inspire future blends to come,” Amrani, Founder and Winemaker of The Vice Wine, said. “Triathlon became a vice for me in 2017 and has helped me tremendously in winemaking. I’m proud that the simple pleasure of enjoying a glass of The Vice Wine will contribute to someone’s healthy lifestyle, participation in sports, or even Olympic dreams.”
“I’m honored by Malek’s choice to blend this wine as a tribute to my 2016 Olympic Triathlon. I’m also glad he did it after my race, because this bottle does not fit onto my bike’s bottle cages! While sport and wine might seem like an odd couple, each aspires to bring people together. The interlocking Olympic rings exemplify that aspirational unity,” Said Joe Maloy. “Enjoy this summer’s Olympic Games, and know that the proceeds from this batch will help the USA Triathlon Foundation support athletes like them when the cameras are turned off. I hope this blend inspires you to unite with others, to celebrate differences, and to create your own Olympic memories. Go Team USA!”
The Vice Wine and the USA Triathlon Foundation first launched a partnership in 2020, and the inaugural Tri Blend was based on 2016 U.S. Olympian Katie Zaferes’ finishing time at the 2019 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she captured her first world title.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with The Vice Wine,” said David Deschenes, Executive Director of the USA Triathlon Foundation. “Our inaugural Katie Zaferes-inspired Tri Blend sold out within a few months, and now we have a great opportunity to enjoy the 2019 blend that memorializes Joe Maloy’s finishing time at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Both Maloy and The Vice Wine are huge supporters of the USA Triathlon Foundation, and the proceeds from our newest batch will help the Foundation introduce even more individuals and groups of all backgrounds across America to the benefits of the multisport lifestyle.”
In the build-up to this summer’s global showcase for the sport and in celebration of the triathlons Amrani will compete in this summer, this partnership between The Vice Wine and the USA Triathlon Foundation will also include expo areas for athletes and guests over 21 years of age* at triathlons across the country, special events and activations, virtual wine tastings with athletes and special guests, virtual watch parties and more.
“The Tri” 2019 – Napa Valley ($33.00/750ml, $18.00/375ml)
Each varietal that makes “The Tri” 2019 was organically grown and picked at its peak ripeness, fermented, and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels before being blended to yield a unique, complex wine. The Cabernet Franc and St. Laurent grapes come from The Vice Wine’s Carneros vineyard, which has a moderate microclimate thanks to its position just north of San Pablo Bay. The Malbec is from the Oak Knoll District, where the temperature is known to swing 40 degrees in a single day. “The Tri” has aromas of Morello cherry, blueberry, and violets, with a little white pepper on the edge. The palate is similarly juicy and peppery, with added notes of plum, pomegranate molasses, and cacao. The finish is long with smooth tannins, which reveal leather and baking spice.
All wines by The Vice are biodynamic and BevVeg! Certified Vegan. 300 cases of 750ml bottles and 45 cases of 375ml bottles of the 2019 Tri Blend were produced.
To learn more, visit TheViceWine.com and follow @TheViceWine on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
To donate to the USA Triathlon Foundation, or to learn more about the foundation and the programs and individuals it supports, visit usatriathlonfoundation.org.
About The Vice Wine
The Vice Wine is a Napa Valley luxury wine brand made in small batches. Each batch is crafted from single grape varietals sourced from hand selected vineyards that best express the grape varietal and the region that it comes from. The Vice Wine is a result of passionate labor, sustainable farming, a long expertise of the wine industry and a current understanding of the consumer’s wine trend. The Vice Wine is about as personal of a brand as it gets. Everything is done by the founders. We drive the truck to get our fruit, we crush, bottle, label; we do everything by hand when possible. We design the labels, work the market, and sell the wine. We believe that the best wines in the world aren’t the most expensive ones. We thrive at providing the best quality wine at the best value. For more information visit thevice.com and follow on @thevicewine.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multi-sport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
About the USA Triathlon Foundation
The USA Triathlon Foundation was created in 2014 by the USA Triathlon Board of Directors as an independent tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity. Under the leadership of its Trustees and Committee members, the Foundation serves as a means to create a healthier America through triathlon and seeks to transform lives by opening up new pathways to the sport for all, especially those who are otherwise underserved. The USA Triathlon Foundation operates with the belief that every child should have the chance to participate, every paratriathlete should have the opportunity to compete, and every aspiring elite athlete should be able to chase his or her Olympic dream. Since the Foundation’s inception, more than $3 million has been provided to worthy causes and organizations that support its mission. Donations to the USA Triathlon Foundation ensure America’s youth are introduced to the benefits and fun of a multisport lifestyle, athletes with disabilities receive the training, support and gear to be able to participate and excel, and the best aspiring young athletes have a chance to pursue their Olympic and Paralympic Dreams. Visit usatriathlonfoundation.org to learn more and donate today.
