PRINCE HARRY RETURNS TO NEW YORK TO PLAY IN THE THIRD ANNUAL VEUVE CLICQUOT POLO CLASSIC ON GOVERNORS ISLAND ON JUNE 27th The Star-Studded Social Event Once Again Will Benefit Prince Harry’s Charity, American Friends of Sentebale
Veuve Clicquot Champagne is delighted to welcome back HRH Prince Henry of Wales to play in the third annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, taking place on New York’s historic Governors Island on Sunday, June 27, 2010. One of New York’s most unique and glamorous daytime social events, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic once again benefits the American Friends of Sentebale, the U.S. arm of the global charity founded by Prince Harry of the British Royal Family and Prince Seeiso of the Lesotho Royal Family, which aims to better the lives of the underprivileged, at-risk children of Lesotho, Southern Africa.
Bringing the thrilling world of polo to New Yorkers for this one day event, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic offers spectators the chance to watch Nacho Figueras, captain of the Black Watch team and face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo Fragrances, go head-to-head once again with Prince Harry in this much-anticipated match. There are two ways to join the VIP experience at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic: purchase a table in the VIP Marquee or buy a picnic ticket for a champagne lunch on the lawn. The event will also feature an area that is free and open to the public. In reverence to the long-time tradition, classic polo style is requested: women in hats; men in summer suits.
“We’re honored to welcome back Prince Harry to the 2010 Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic,” states Christine Kaculis, Director of Communications for Veuve Clicquot. “We’re very pleased to once again support Prince Harry’s charity, Sentebale, through this unique and memorable New York occasion.”
“We are delighted that the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic will once again be supporting the American Friends of Sentebale and our work with the most vulnerable children in Lesotho,” says Kedge Martin, CEO of Sentebale. “Every day, at least 100 more children in this beautiful country have their lives devastated by the loss of a parent – having to drop out of school to become caretakers of their relatives, getting exposed to abuse, vulnerable to exploitation – the utter devastation of their childhood. Iconic events such as this are crucial to raising awareness and supporting our mission to make a real difference in the lives of the most needy children.”
“I’m honored to meet Prince Harry on the field once again for this spectacular New York event,” says Nacho Figueras. “This is a unique opportunity to bring my passion for the sport of polo together with the worthy cause of Sentebale, a charity very close to my heart.”
In the historic setting of Governors Island, this month’s Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic promises to attract a fashionable crowd from around the globe and feature the glamour and excitement of polo – ‘the sport of kings.’ Certain to be as stylish and star-studded as years past, last year’s Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic drew over 6,000 public spectators and a VIP line-up of guests including, Madonna, Kate Hudson, Marc Jacobs, Chloe Sevigny, LL Cool J, Donna Karan, Lucy Sykes, Rachel Roy, Hilary Rhoda and Alex Wek, all cheering on Prince Harry and Nacho Figueras as they went pony-to-pony for a worthy cause.
“The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is a great celebration of the Island’s historic connection to polo,” says Leslie Koch, president of the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation. “We are honored to welcome the event back to the island and thrilled that thousands more visitors will be able to enjoy a free afternoon of polo here.”
This year, Veuve Clicquot partners with Union Square Hospitality Group, to turn spectator snacking into an unmatched dining experience. Michael Romano, chef/partner of Union Square Cafe and culinary director for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) has designed a multi-course champagne lunch for the guests in the VIP Marquee along with a gourmet picnic luncheon for picnic ticket holders developed by USHG’s catering arm, Union Square Events. In addition, an upscale snack cart will offer innovative mid-game snack options such as gourmet mini lemon whoopie pies, fudge cupcakes with orange buttercream frosting, Green Market famous pretzels and the famous Union Square Cafe mixed nut blend.
Spectators sitting on the public side can expect plenty of Veuve Clicquot champagne bars and premium concessions from Union Square Hospitality Group’s Blue Smoke and El Verano Taquería, marking the first time Chef Floyd Cardoz’s irresistible tacos will be available outside of Citi Field, home of the New York Mets.
“We are very excited to partner with Veuve Clicquot. Our team looks forward to bringing our culinary viewpoint to this well-established, highly-visible and cherished New York summer event,” says Michael Romano, chef/partner of Union Square Cafe and Culinary Director for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG).
Veuve Clicquot is excited to welcome back Piaget as the official timekeeper of the polo match. This year, the Swiss luxury watchmaker is creating a special limited-edition version of its Piaget Polo FortyFive Chronograph, inspired by the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic. A favorite of celebrities and many of the world’s top polo players, the specially-designed watch will feature the iconic ‘Clicquot Yellow’ on its signature sub-dials and will be designated ‘New York’ to celebrate the location of the world’s most glamorous polo tournament. Only 10 will be produced and Piaget will award one to the winning polo team on June 27th. The remaining models will be sold exclusively at Piaget boutiques.
“Piaget has a long history with polo, so we are proud to commemorate our partnership with the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic by creating this very special timepiece,” says Larry Boland, president of Piaget NA. “It’s certain to become a collector’s item.” The official luxury automotive sponsor of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is the Ferrari California. The newest V8 grand-tourer in the Ferrari product line up, the California, offers features that make this model the ultimately versatile sports car, from the retractable hard-top to its back seats, while being true to Ferrari’s extreme performance and technological innovation. Ferrari is thrilled to offer VIP guests attending the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic luncheon the unique opportunity to participate in an exclusive driving experience program.
Veuve Clicquot is delighted to have The Standard, New York as the official hotel partner of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic. The Standard, New York is located in New York City’s thriving Meatpacking District and is André Balazs’ most recent property in his expanding collection of Standard hotels which includes The Standard, Hollywood, The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, and The Standard, Downtown LA. All 337 guestrooms and suites at The Standard, New York have breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the New York City skyline. The Standard Grill, the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant with Chef Dan Silverman at the helm, will be featuring a Veuve Clicquot champagne cocktail, The Near Side, in celebration of the Veuve Cliquot Polo Classic for the month of June. Guests can book their room today at www.standardhotels.com. More information on event-themed hotel packages will be available on both the hotel’s website and www.vcseason.com.
To ensure this year’s polo fashion over-delivers on the glamour and red carpet drama, Veuve Clicquot has also teamed up with Ellen Christine Colon-Lugo, leading ‘milliner to the stars’ to get the women of New York ‘hat ready’ for this stylish event. Ellen Christine has had the pleasure of ‘hat dressing’ the likes of Penelope Cruz, Demi Moore, Beyonce Knowles, Johnny Depp and Harrison Ford and will be consulting and fitting of-the-moment polo appropriate hats out of her Chelsea boutique leading up to this year’s Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic. We reviewed one of her designs last week and we are sure many will be wearing her to this event!
In addition to purchasing a table in the exclusive VIP Marquee, Lunch on the Lawn picnic tickets to the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic are currently available for purchase. They are $250 per person and will provide access to all of the glamorous action, unlimited Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, a custom Polo picnic blanket, picnic basket and champagne flute, and a gourmet picnic lunch developed by Chef Michael Romano, chef/partner of Union Square Cafe and Culinary Director of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group and its catering business, Union Square Events. In addition, picnickers will have access to custom Petanque courts, the famous French game made popular in the U.S. by Veuve Clicquot.
Always sip responsibly.
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 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.comor www.veuve-clicquot.com.
ABOUT SENTEBALE
Founded in 2006, Sentebale’s mission is to transform the lives of Lesotho’s orphans and vulnerable children. Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry of the British Royal Family and Prince Seeiso from the Lesotho Royal Family. Lesotho is a unique and beautiful country, but with extreme poverty and the third highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world, it is a country in desperate need of help. With an estimated 400,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho, Sentebale works with grass roots organizations to identify, support and empower these children. Sentebale’s name means, “forget me not,” and is a reminder of all the children who need help in Lesotho. American Friends of Sentebale is a U.S. charity that promotes the health, welfare and education of the people of Lesotho, particularly its orphans and vulnerable children and supports Sentebale in its charitable work in Lesotho. For more information, please visit www.sentebale.org.
ABOUT GOVERNORS ISLAND AND THE GOVERNORS ISLAND PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION CORPORATION (GIPEC)
One of the most historic and iconic locations in New York, Governors Island sits roughly 800 yards off the southern tip of Manhattan. Polo was played regularly on Governors Island when it was an Army base and matches were played throughout the early part of the 20th century, with the last match being played just before World War II in September 1941. Veuve Clicquot brought polo back to Governors Island in May 2008, almost 70 years since it was last played on the island. The Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) is responsible for the planning, redevelopment, and ongoing operations for 150 acres of Governors Island. GIPEC seeks to bring life to Governors Island, making this island at the center of New York Harbor a destination with great public open space, as well as future education, not for profit and commercial facilities. Governors Island is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 5 through October 10. For more information please visit www.govisland.com.
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/
