With the unofficial end of summer closing in, it's time to begin plotting fall travel near and far. From a Southern California epicurean event to an Irish opera festival and Argentinian polo tournament, the fall season boasts some of the globe's most exquisite events that'll give great reason to book trips to some of the world's most sought-after locales.
Newport Beach Wine & Food - Newport Beach, Calif. (October 3-6)
This four-day festival, set in various locals throughout the picturesque coastal city, offers guests the unique opportunity to rub elbows with James Beard award winners and celebrity chefs like Richard Blais, Nobu Matsuhisa, Hubert Keller, Art Smith, and more as they roam the festival grounds and lead interactive cooking demonstrations. Other event highlights include a progressive lunch through Newport Coast luxury estates, Fire It Up waterfront barbecue, rare vertical library tastings from Opus One and JUSTIN, and the Grand Tasting featuring endless bites and generous pours from more than 40 Orange County restaurants and top California wineries. New to the lineup this year is the luxe Diamond Club ticket ($900 for the weekend), which features VIP entrance to the Grand Tasting, a private lounge, specialty wine tastings from Opus One, Hundred Acre, The Mascot, and others, meet-and-greets with master sommeliers, as well as the opportunity to join the closed mailing lists for sought-after wineries.
Italian Grand Prix - Monza, Italy (September 8-12)
Luxury car and racing fans converge each year at Monza Eni Circuit for one of racing's premier events. Various exclusive ticket packages are available, including an 8 Day Elite Supercar Driving Tour from Venice to Monza via the Alps. Five days of winding through the picturesque mountains in luxury supercars is complemented by overnight stays at 5-star resorts tucked within quaint villages. Day 6 lands the experience in Monza and is followed by two days of watching the Grand Prix race from the Champions Club Suite.
Wexford Festival Opera - Wexford, Ireland (Oct 22 - Nov 3)
Since its conception in 1951, Wexford Festival Opera has emerged as one of the world's leading opera festivals, drawing arts aficionados from across the world to this Irish town for 2 weeks of both classic and under-the-radar operas. The festival is recognized among opera-lovers and novices alike for its high-quality productions that introduce neglected works to the public and also breathing new life into generations-old masterpieces.
Argentine Open Polo Tournament - Buenos Aires, Argentina (November - December)
Many may traditionally consider polo to be a sport for English royals and elite society members, but Argentina has long been home to some of the most competitive polo in the world. The Argentine Open is considered the most important inter-club championship, with weeks of world-class match play leading up to the Grand Final in mid-December. Elite polo champions and enthusiasts flock to the Argentine Polo Ground (known as the 'cathedral of polo') and celebrate at exclusive post-match events.
J-Dag - Copenhagen, Denmark (Friday, November 1)
Each year on the first Friday of November, Denmark residents and curious travelers flock to Copenhagen for the J-Dag celebration. It is tradition that at 8:59pm, a horse-drawn carriage departs from the iconic Tuborg Brewery with Julbryg, a limited-edition Christmas beer that is available at bars across Copenhagen for only six weeks each year. One of the country's most awaited days of the year, J-Dag marks the arrival of the holiday season and in true Denmark fashion, is celebrated with cheers of beer.
