A Polo Tradition
Originally published in Empire Polo Magazine
by Lynn Bremner
Polo action at Empire Polo Club.
Watching polo players and ponies thunder down emerald fields is an exhilarating experience. Tailgaters and fans line the boards to take in fast-paced action as they enjoy a feast for the eyes, as well as for the palate. Mallet blankets and picnic baskets dot the sidelines and are filled to the brim with tasty appetizers, snacks and bottles of wine. Silver goblets sparkle in the sunshine as spectators enjoy an afternoon of Sunday Polo and fine wine.
Fondly nicknamed “The Sport of Kings,” polo draws a sophisticated group of players and spectators from around the globe. It’s no wonder that wine is a popular refreshment at polo games, and it wouldn’t be a proper polo match without a traditional champagne divot stomp at halftime.
With Temecula Valley’s wine country about an hour’s drive from Palm Springs, local wines produced by family-owned wineries are a favorite amongst the polo community at Empire Polo Club. Our halftime divot stomp features complimentary champagne and sparkling wine from Temecula-based Wilson Creek Winery. Divot stompers can sample Almond Champagne or Grand Cuvee Champagne, or try one of the winery’s sparkling wines, Peach Bellini or Orange Mimosa, as they tread in the divots.
Wilson Creek sponsors the Champagne Divot Stomp at Empire Polo Club.
Another historic tradition associated with the sport of polo is tailgating. Since many polo clubs are located in rural areas at private clubs, players often pack a picnic lunch or supper and head to the polo club for the day. Even at the public clubs, polo players spend the day at the club and often don’t want to take the time to leave the polo grounds for meals. This has made tailgating a big part of the polo experience.
Wine and tailgating at polo go hand-in-hand.
Wine goes hand-in-hand with a polo tailgate party and we have a few suggestions as to what to pack in your basket. Temecula Valley wines pair well with a variety of polo picnic menus. Try coupling a 2009
White Feather Chardonnay produced by Longshadow Ranch Winery, or Ponte Winery’s 2010 Vermentino, with slices of mild cheddar cheese, tangy olives and smoked salmon.
If you enjoy reds, the Monte De Oro 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect match to sharp cheddar or bleu cheese on slices of crispy French bread or crackers. If you’re grilling on the sidelines, a 2008 Falkner Cabernet or 2007 Driveway Red, a Bordeaux-style blend produced by Hart Winery, will bring out the flavor in steaks or gourmet hamburgers.
Grilled chicken pairs well with Wiens Family Cellars 2009 Viognier, a white wine with aromas of pear, apricot and honeysuckle with a nice, slightly sweet finish. You might also try a Baily 2009 Riesling, with aromas of apples and spice with your grilled chicken. It’s described by Baily Vineyard & Winery as “a wonderful picnic wine.”
With more than 30 wineries and 30 growers in the Temecula Valley, there are many options for your polo picnic wine pairings. A quick day trip to Temecula is a great way to get familiar with the local wines, or if you are able to join us at Empire Polo Club on January 29th, the Temecula Valley wineries are coming to the desert for the annual Empire Polo & Wine Festival. Tasters will have the opportunity to sample handcrafted wines from more than a dozen Temecula wineries.
For more information about the Empire Polo & Wine Festival, visit www.EmpirePolo.com.
Temecula Valley Wine Country – Location
Exit I-15 at Rancho California Road in south Riverside County
Less than 65 miles from San Diego, Orange County and Palm Springs; 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles
Temecula wineries have received top honors at more than a dozen major wine competitions—including more than 100 Gold, Double Gold and Best In Class awards in 2010 alone. As a result, the Temecula Valley has become widely known as Southern California’s premiere winemaking region.
The main Sunday Polo field at Empire Polo Club.
Baily Vineyard & Winery
Bel Vino
Briar Rose Winery
Callaway Vineyard & Winery
Churon Winery
Cougar Vineyards & Winery
Danza del Sol Winery
Doffo Vineyard & Winery
Falkner Winery
Foot Path Winery
Frangipani Winery
Hart Winery
Keyways Vineyard & Winery
Leonesse Cellars
Longshadow Ranch Winery
Lorimar Winery
Maurice Car’rie Vineyard & Winery
Miramonte Winery
Monte de Oro Winery
Mount Palomar Winery
Oak Mountain Winery
Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery
Ponte Family Estate Winery
Robert Renzoni Vineyards
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
Thornton Winery
Van Roekel Winery
Villa di Calabro Winery & Olive Oil Co.
Vindemia Vineyards
Wiens Family Cellars
Wilson Creek Winery
Click to enlarge.