A vintage Pullman car rolled through Napa Valley last Tuesday carrying an unusual mix of passengers: fashion designers, an Olympic gold medalist, a celebrity chef, and the sister of California’s governor, all gathered for an invitation-only event called “All Aboard, Darling.” Guests boarded the Napa Valley Wine Train for an afternoon that blended denim customization, wine pairings, and networking among tastemakers from fashion, technology, design, philanthropy, sports, and business.
The event marked a partnership between the Napa Valley Wine Train, fashion label Veronica Beard, and digital communications app HiNOTE, according to The Napa Valley Register. The gathering was co-hosted by Veronica Swanson Beard, co-founder of the denim and ready-to-wear brand, and Alexis Swanson Traina, founder of HiNOTE. Hilary Newsom Callan, president of PlumpJack Group and sister of Governor Gavin Newsom, also attended.
Guests took part in a hands-on embroidery masterclass led by Lauren Sharp, founder of Artifact, crafting personalized Veronica Beard denim shirts with custom monograms. The same report notes that attendees also visited a premium denim pop-up onboard, where they completed their looks with Veronica Beard jeans — a fitting tie-in given the brand’s existing storefront in downtown St. Helena.
Olympic Star and Celebrity Chef Among the Guests
Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi was among the attendees, joining a guest list that also included award-winning chef Kathy Fang and publicist Alexis Pence. The Wine Train’s culinary team served an elevated afternoon tea-inspired menu, paired with wines from the PlumpJack Collection of wineries — the hospitality portfolio Hilary Newsom Callan has led as president since 2009, per earlier Hoodline reporting. Callan also serves as chair and founder of the PlumpJack Foundation, according to the same Napa Valley Register account of the event…