New Apres-Ski Experience at The St. Regis Deer Valley

Launching Dec. 12, the hotel will transform its iconic “ski beach” into a visually stunning sculpted ice structure, designed in grand fashion by Ice Castles LLC., as well as an exclusive Ruinart Champagne ice bar, aptly called Après at The St. Regis Deer Valley.

Serving the acclaimed Ruinart brand’s flagship Blanc de Blancs collection among other varietals, including the Ruinart Rosé and its highly regarded Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2004, Après at The St. Regis Deer Valley will run through the 2014/2015 ski season and elevate the luxury experience. A place to be seen, socialize and celebrate while enjoying delicacies such as caviar and the hotel’s famed tuna on ice, The St. Regis Deer Valley brings true glamour back to the sport.

Providing a spectacular visual complement to Après at The St. Regis Deer Valley will be the hotel’s first-ever, grand illuminated ice sculpture, which will be unveiled to the public on Dec. 13. Built by Ice Castles, LLC., which has gained international fame for its previous remarkable structures, the ice sculpture is an architectural marvel that reflects a unique design as, just like snowflakes, no two are alike. Guests of all ages are invited to view the beauty of the hand-crafted structure that will sparkle a glacial blue by day and glow multi-colored at night with the help of thousands of LED lights embedded in the ice. Every visitor gets a distinctive, organic experience since the ice is constantly melting, freezing and being reshaped.

During construction, 3,200 icicles will be created each night and then harvested and sculpted into the ice structure one by one. The ice sculpture is literally grown from the ground up and resembles organic formations found in nature, like those of frozen waterfalls, glaciers, or ice caves. The completed sculpture will be made up of approximately 1.2 million pounds of ice, all of which will return into the immediate environment in the spring.

The combination of the ice structure and Ruinart partnership takes The St. Regis Deer Valley guest experience to a new level. Founded in 1729, Ruinart is the first established champagne house in the world. A boutique wine renowned for mastering rare and delicate chardonnay grapes, Ruinart champagnes have a focus on freshness, luminosity and elegance, much like The St. Regis Deer Valley. Nearby on the resort’s Mountain Terrace, visitors can view a nightly champagne sabering demonstration, a St. Regis tradition, while younger guests can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and a nightly s’mores roast.

“At The St. Regis Deer Valley, we understand the ski experience includes more than just a day on the slopes. For many of our guests, the relaxing and socializing that follows can be as enjoyable as the skiing itself,” said Edward Shapard, General Manager, The St. Regis Deer Valley. “Through all of our unique programs, we seek to provide a full-scale guest experience that not only raises the bar, but sets a new standard of luxury. With Après at St. Regis Deer Valley, we feel we have achieved that goal.”

“Both synonymous with elegance and sophistication, Ruinart champagne and The St. Regis Deer Valley are ideal partners to celebrate the winter season,” added Nicolas Ricroque, Ruinart Brand Director. “We are proud to create the Ruinart ice bar to toast the fifth anniversary of The St. Regis Deer Valley as there is nothing more refined than an après ski moment filled with Ruinart champagne and sweeping views of the mountain.”

Already known for its true slope side, ski-in/ski-out access to the spectacular Wasatch Mountains, the luxury mountainside retreat also recently announced a new Ski Ambassador program for 2014/2015. The distinctive program will offer guests the ability to design bespoke experiences with a full roster of experts made up of Olympic legends and U.S. Ski Team members, including: Kris “Fuzz” Feddersen, Kaylin Richardson, K.C. Oakley, Jillian Vogtli and Mac Bohonnon.

For more information or to book reservations at The St. Regis Deer Valley, please call (435) 940-5858, or visit www.stregisdeervalley.com.