Second-Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles Returns to Benefit Will Rogers State Historic Park

NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Veuve Clicquot Champagne is delighted to announce that the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles is returning to Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades on Sunday, October 9, 2011.  For a second year, the world-renowned champagne house is inviting Angelenos to enjoy an exciting game of polo, while supporting the preservation of Will Rogers State Historic Park, Will Rogers Polo Club and their efforts to preserve the sport of polo in Los Angeles and the beautiful oasis that is Will Rogers State Historic Park.  Co-hosts Nacho Figueras and Delfina Blaquier, Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman and President of Veuve Clicquot U.S. Vanessa Kay, will be joined by friends, supporters and polo enthusiasts.  

"We are delighted to bring the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic back to Los Angeles," states Vanessa Kay, President of Veuve Clicquot U.S.  "After four years hosting the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in New York, and last year's success with the inaugural Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles, we are excited to continue the tradition in one of the country's most stylish and vibrant cities.  With great support and enthusiasm from California State Parks, Will Rogers State Historic Park and Nacho Figueras, Veuve Clicquot will bring professional polo back to Los Angeles this fall and for years to come."  

In an effort to further support California State Parks, Will Rogers State Historic Park, Veuve Clicquot will be selling tickets to the event this year for fifteen dollars ($15.00) per ticket.  Faced with narrowing state budgets and staff reductions, the park depends largely on public and private partnerships like Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and Will Rogers Polo Club, as well as private contributions, for financial support of preservation efforts.  Beginning today, tickets can be purchased at www.vcseason.com/lapolo.

"After the success of the inaugural Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles, I look forward to returning and introducing many more to the sport of polo," says Nacho Figueras. "My hope is that thousands of people join us at Will Rogers State Historic Park to learn more about polo, enjoy flutes of Veuve Clicquot and support this beautiful park."

Bringing extra style to the event, Veuve Clicquot has teamed up with Rachel Zoe, renowned stylist, clothing designer, author, reality TV star and fashion icon.  As one of the fashion industry's most powerful players, Rachel Zoe will bring her distinct eye for style to the polo field as an event co-host.  

"Rodger and I are so honored and excited to be co-hosting this event alongside our dear friends, Nacho and Delfina. I don't follow many sports, but polo is the most glamorous of them all — very reminiscent of old Hollywood.  It's going to be an incredibly chic afternoon," says Rachel Zoe.

The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles promises to once again attract a fashionable crowd and feature the glamour and excitement of polo – "the sport of kings."  In reverence to the gaiety of the sport's 1920's and 1930's heyday, guests are encouraged to don fashions inspired by that era as well as traditional polo looks including fascinators and chic hats for women, and daytime suits for men.  Cameron Silver, famed owner of Los Angeles and London-based vintage boutiques, decadestwo and DECADES, offers tips on achieving a chic vintage style fitting for an afternoon of polo and champagne on the event website.  The event's entertainment will mirror the fashion of the vintage era, with the 1930's revival band Janet Klein and the Parlor Boys and dancing flappers on hand.  

Ticket holders will be able to watch the match from bleachers and picnic areas overlooking the legendary polo grounds – the last of Los Angeles' original 22 polo fields – where Hollywood celebrity and polo connoisseur Will Rogers used to play the sport himself along with fellow polo enthusiasts including Clark Gable, Walt Disney and Spencer Tracy.  Similar to reintroducing professional polo back to Los Angeles in 2010, Veuve Clicquot did the same in New York City in 2008, when it brought the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic to Governors Island, just off of Manhattan, where the sport had not been played in over 70 years.  

Spectators can expect numerous Veuve Clicquot champagne bars and premium bites from some of Los Angeles most beloved food trucks available as well.  In addition, Veuve Clicquot boutiques will dot the event grounds and offer a variety of picnic essentials, including blankets, hats, polo shirts, umbrellas, sunglasses and more.

"We are thrilled that the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles is returning for another year to continue the tradition of the sport of polo in Los Angeles, while also supporting California State Parks, the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and the Will Rogers Polo Club Inc.," says Jennifer Rogers, great-granddaughter of the late Will Rogers.  "The Rogers family is honored to see the sport of polo and such an amazing event brought back to my great-grandfather's namesake park."

VIP guests of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in both New York and Los Angeles have included Prince Harry, Hugh Jackman, Madonna, Naomi Watts, Isla Fisher, Kate Hudson, Minnie Driver, Rachel Zoe, Brittany Snow, Mary J. Blige, Julianna Margulies, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Alexis Biedel, Gayle King, Cameron Silver, Marc Jacobs, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Susan Sarandon, Andre Balazs and many more.  This past June, more than 18,000 people came to Governors Island in New York City to experience the world-class polo match and glamour of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic.

For ticket information, event schedule, parking directions and general information, please visit www.vcseason.com/lapolo

For additional event information, b-roll and/or still images of previous Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic events, background on the Will Rogers State Historic Park and/or to arrange an interview with participating Veuve Clicquot representatives – Nacho Figueras and Vanessa Kay – please contact [email protected].

Always sip responsibly.

ABOUT VEUVE CLICQUOT

Veuve Clicquot has a long association with polo in England with the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup and now in the United States of America with the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, which kicks-off the Veuve Clicquot Season summer opening.  The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic has taken place on Governors Island in New York City for the past four years, and is in its second year in Los Angeles.  The champagne house was established in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot, and began to thrive when Widow Madame Clicquot took the helm 1805.  Today its eponymous Yellow Label continues to be one of the world's most beloved champagnes. The Veuve Clicquot Season is an essential guide to the most exclusive social events and parties of the year across the country.  For more information, please visit www.vcseason.com or www.veuve-clicquot.com.

ABOUT WILL ROGERS STATE HISTORIC PARK

Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades, CA, is where Hollywood luminaries including Will Rogers, Clark Gable, Walt Disney and Spencer Tracy once enjoyed polo. Today, the Will Rogers State Historic Park's polo field sits on the original site of Will Rogers' private home and is the only polo field left in Los Angeles. Faced with narrowing state budgets and staff reductions, the park depends largely on public and private partnerships like the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and the Will Rogers Polo Club – non-profit organizations dedicated to honoring the legacy of Will Rogers through interpretation, education and the ongoing restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of Will Rogers State Historic Park – and private contributions for financial support of preservation efforts. Through the second annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles, Veuve Clicquot is proud to once again support the preservation of the Will Rogers State Historic Park, Will Rogers Polo Club and their efforts to preserve the sport of polo in Los Angeles.  For more information please visit www.parks.ca.gov .

ABOUT BLACK WATCH

Black Watch is a world-class polo team which has won numerous tournaments throughout the United States. In 2007, Black Watch was the champion of the Mercedes Benz Polo Challenge and the winter champion of the Palm Beach Hall of Fame Cup. The team is captained by Nacho Figueras, professional polo player, face of Ralph Lauren's Polo Fragrances and model for Ralph Lauren's Black Label Collection. For more information, please visit http://www.Facebook.com/NachoFigueras.

SOURCE Veuve Clicquot