Raise a Glass and a Mallet
Folded Hills’ annual Polo Classic
Summer is polo season in Santa Barbara, and Folded Hills Winery helped usher it in with the sixth annual Folded Hills Polo Classic on Saturday, June 13, held on their own field in the Santa Ynez Valley. Some 300 members and guests sipped a number of new wine releases, including the acclaimed 2024 Roper Syrah, and watched players drawn from the Santa Barbara Polo Club battle it out for the day’s honors.
“These are ad hoc teams,” says Kim Busch, who owns the winery with her husband, lifelong polo aficionado Andy, “and often children of the club players join in.” This year the field included their son Will, number two on the winery’s team; Jesse Bray, a top-rated American 7-goal player; and Carter Thicke, son of Santa Barbara Magazine executive editor Gina Tolleson.
“We do different events here, and this is a perfect fit,” Busch says. Among the festivities were tailgate contests, she adds, “and our executive chef served mini sliders, asiago potatos, and bruschetta with tomatoes from the ranch. People love to come and watch these great equine athletes and riders. There’s a magical feel to sitting on the sidelines and hearing the thundering hooves up and down the field.”
When the final score was posted, Folded Hills Blue had tied Folded Hills White. Of course, with a glass of Folded Hills wine in hand, the spectators themselves could feel like winners.
