Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Meiomi Wines
The Express Lift Café and Bar at the base of Vail Mountain looked a little different last week as Meiomi Wines imported a bit of California Wine Country with its Meiomi Club Noir — an elevated winter gathering inspired by mountain moments, post-slope rituals and smooth California wine.
A 48-hour takeover and complete transformation of Express Lift Café and Bar invited the public to attend on Wednesday for light bites, complimentary pours of Meiomi’s signature pinot noir and other Meiomi wines, and tunes by DJ Pamela Tick. On Thursday, Meiomi hosted a special VIP après ski and party goers were treated to surprise guest appearances by actors Gwyneth Paltrow and Jamie Chung as well as tastemakers Tezza Barton, Julie Sariñana and more.
Paltrow looked stunning in a long coat and floor-length dress in winter white, obviously not worried about getting red wine on the light-colored outfit.
The décor followed the pinot noir theme of deep burgundy hues throughout the chic alpine atmosphere. Fire pits for s’mores were made with custom-made Meiomi marshmallows, sheepskin throws and burgundy blankets lined the wood deck chairs outside while inside there was a place to take photos on a chairlift with the Meiomi branding throughout the space.
Local ice sculptor, Scott Rella, had created a 12-foot tall by 12-foot wide igloo for the event, which held up for Wednesday’s fête, but the warm temperatures in Vail caused it to be taken down by Thursday. Rella created a beautiful ice bar that was flanked by burgundy roses and grapes with Pepi’s Face and Head First ski trails on Vail Mountain as the backdrop.
