*** UPDATE: Empire Polo & Wine Festival continues as scheduled on Sunday, Jan. 29th, minus the polo games. CLICK HERE for update. ***
Due to the recent EHV-1 horse quarantine at Empire, no polo matches will be featured during the Empire Polo & Wine Festival this year. The Empire Polo & Wine Festival has discounted the wine tasting ticket price to $15.00 per person to accommodate the format change.
The Empire Polo & Wine Festival has changed its format and will couple it’s wine tasting with a “Day on the Lawn” featuring live music, croquet and bocce ball.
More than a dozen wineries will pour samples of hand-crafted wine produced in Temecula Valley. Wine tasters will enjoy live jazz and acoustic music as they meander through the lawn area tasting wine and enjoying the ornate fountains, elegant sculptures and tropical gardens.
CLICK HERE for full update.
Tourism and Economic Development Continue to Flourish in the City of Festivals
Indio, CA– The City of Indio has a new event to add to it’s list of annual festivals, the Empire Polo & Wine Festival. Known as the “City of Festivals,” Indio is home to Coachella Valley’s largest festivals including: The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, The Coachella Music & Arts Festival, The Stagecoach Country Music Festival, The Southwest Arts Festival, The Tamale Festival and the newest festival be added to the lineup, The Empire Polo & Wine Festival.
Empire Polo Club is well known as the venue for the Coachella Art and Music Festival, the Stagecoach Country Music Festival and The Southwest Arts Festival. The addition of the Empire Polo & Wine Festival to their season schedule is a natural fit for Empire Polo Club. By pairing a wine festival with world-class polo Empire has created a unique event that will appeal to local residents and tourists alike. With ticket prices affordably priced at $30 per person at the gate, Empire expects a successful turnout for 1st Annual Empire Polo & Wine Festival.
When asked about the Empire Polo & Wine Festival, Glenn Miller, Mayor of the City of Indio had these comments to share:
“Indio, the City of Festivals, recognizes the importance and economic benefit that the Empire Polo & Wine Festival will bring to the community. The City is excited to support the development and growth of this new annual event.”
“I wish the Empire Polo Club much success for the event, and I know they will continue to strongly support the local community by hosting unique events that bring more tourism and business to Indio each year.”
Owner of the Empire Polo Club, Alex Haagen, III has plans to expand Empire’s facilities and to add new events each year. Empire Polo Club opened their doors to the public for Friday night “Polo Under The Lights” and “Sunday Polo” events that run throughout the winter season from January – March. This year they have added the Empire Polo & Wine Festival to their season schedule, which is slated to become one of their annual events.
Alex Haagen’s son, Alex Haagen, IV had these comments to share:
“We see the Empire Polo & Wine Festival as an event that will grow into one of the countries premier wine festivals,” said Alex Haagen, IV.
“When we initially came up with the concept of a Polo & Wine Festival, our idea was to create a unique experience for festivalgoers by combining hand-crafted wines and live Jazz & Bluegrass music with the exciting sport of polo,” said Alex Haagen, IV.
Empire’s Polo & Wine Festival
The 1st Annual Empire Polo & Wine Festival will be held at Empire Polo Club on Sunday, January 29th, 2012. The Empire Polo & Wine Festival will feature more than a dozen wineries that will pour samples of handcrafted wine produced in Temecula Valley, located just an hours drive from the Coachella Valley. The wine tasting is coupled with music and a traditional day of Sunday Polo featuring two polo games and a complimentary halftime champagne divot stomp sponsored by Wilson Creek Winery.
Empire Polo & Wine Festival Details
Date: Sunday, January 29th, 2012
Time: 12:00 – 4:30 pm
Gates open at 11:30 am
Cost: $30 Per Person at the gate or $25 with advance purchase online for wine tasting tickets *
Location: Empire Polo Club, 81-800 Ave. 51, Indio, CA 92201
*Participants must be 21 years of age to taste wine. There is no charge for spectators who chose not to participate in the wine tasting. General Admission to the polo games is free.
Wine Tasting Tickets are $30 per person at the gate or $25 with advance purchase online. This fee includes wine tasting and a souvenir wine glass. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online at http://www.ticketfly.com/event/70279.
There is no charge for spectators to watch the polo games.
For VIP seating or groups contact Empire Polo Club for details at Tel. 760-393-7298 or email tonyschieffer@empirepolo.com. Food and beverage service is available on site during the Festival for an additional fee.
Directions To Empire Polo Club
From I-10 take the Monroe St. exit and head south on Monroe St. Turn right on Avenue 50. The entrance for the Empire Polo & Wine Festival is on Avenue 50. Follow the parking signs.
Empire Polo Club
81-800 Ave. 51
Indio, CA 92201
Tel. 760-393-7298
www.Facebook.com/EmpirePolo
2012 Season Schedule
Jan. 6th – April 1st, 2012
January 2012
Jan. 6th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Jan. 8th Sunday Polo, Opening Day & Hat Day
Jan. 13th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Jan. 15th Sunday Polo
Jan. 20th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Jan. 22nd Sunday Polo
Jan. 27th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Jan. 29th Sunday Polo – Polo & Wine Festival
February 2012
Feb. 3rd Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Feb. 5th Sunday Polo
Feb. 10th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Feb. 12th Sunday Polo
Feb. 17th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Feb. 19th Sunday Polo – U.S. Gay Polo Tournament 12:00 & 8-10 Goal League at 2:00 PM
Feb. 24th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Feb. 26th Sunday Polo
March 2012
March 2nd Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
March 4th Sunday Polo – WCT Women’s Grass Tournament
March 9th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
March 11th Sunday Polo
March 16th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
March 18th Sunday Polo
March 23rd Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
March 24th: Saturday Night WCT Women’s Arena Finals (time TBD)
March 25th Sunday Polo
April 2012
April 1st: Sunday Polo, Champions’ Cup Finals & Closing Day
For more information visit www.EmpirePolo.com.