Last year at this time I was still a bit of an unknown entity in this community. While I was known as a blogger my role and function was still a bit hazy, even to me, and certainly to local organizations. The concept of bloggers as media was still a bit novel here, and so many groups didn’t know quite what to do with me. The folks at the SMS Wine Auction, though, were “early adopters” – and they issued me my very first event media pass.
The SMS Wine Auction is a fundraiser for
the Big Brothers and Big Sisters, a fine organization in our community. My
older sister was actually a big sister for some time, and I recall how much it
meant to both her and to the little sister she mentored for a couple of years.
I think it was an experience that changed both of their lives, and so I am
familiar with the work done by the Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and their
importance in a world where children can sometimes feel alone.
The wine auction blew me away last year.
The attention to detail in everything from décor to wines was so apparent and
impressive that I walked away thinking they could never top it – and yet they
did, as this past weekend I once again attended the wine auction and was
impressed all over again.
I love arriving at an event and
anticipating what I will find inside. When I arrived at the Syncrude Sport and
Wellness Centre what I found was a sophisticated cocktail setting in the middle
of some very industrial touches. The décor, you see, was meant to evoke a
rougher feel, with industrial wire spools as tables and wine cartons as stands.
The contrast of the fine wines and the industrial edge was very apparent and
worked very well in my opinion, lending the room an interesting feel and
atmosphere perfect for the festivities to follow.
I wandered around the room snapping
photographs of the silent auction items, lovely wines and other items available
for bidding. It was of course the live auction wines that interested me most,
though, including a bottle of Barbeito Madeira from 1878. Yes, you read that right,
1878, an incredible bottle of wine by any measure (including still existing
after 134 years – 134 YEARS people!). Other items up for auction included trips
to Napa Valley, dinner with our lovely mayor, and dinner with our local MLAs
(which, me being me, elicited a quip about how they should pay me to have dinner with
politicians, but I digress). I wandered and snapped photos and then I tried to
get into the wine tasting room.
I tried once, and it was full. I tried
twice, and it was full. Third time lucky, I managed to wedge my way in, and this
room was clearly the most popular at the entire event as guests sampled the
fine wines on offer. I hadn’t bought any tickets to try the samples as when I
am working I don’t normally drink – but then a friend with extra tickets found
me and wine glasses began to appear in my hand.
I tried reds and whites and I was delighted
to find a lovely variety of tastes. I tried Chardonnays (my preference) and
Rieslings (not my preference, too sweet for me but reminiscent of the wine my
German parents preferred). I tried Cabernets and the other reds, and I was
joined by those around me also trying all the fine wines on offer.
I wandered into the main lounge area and
checked out the food (catered by the Sawridge, which meant it was fabulous of
course), and I checked out the entertainment (Becca Hess, a beautiful and
talented local musician who also happens to remind me of another beautiful
young woman in my family, and so I always smile to see her although she does
not know me). I checked out the beaded chandeliers, which I happen to know were
handmade and hand beaded by friends involved in the wine auction, and I
marvelled at the work and detail that went into them.
And that’s exactly it, people. These galas
and events often look effortless when you attend them as a guest, and that is
how it is supposed to be so you can enjoy the event and the atmosphere. But I
know a little bit about the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that go into
them. I know a little bit about what it takes to make these events happen, and
I know a little bit about how much they mean to the organizations that benefit
from them. I know that those little touches like beaded chandeliers take hours and hours of work and sweat and dedication - and that's just the chandeliers.
The wine auction was an opportunity to
gather with friends and members of our community, to laugh and talk and raise a
glass. It was so much more, though. It was an opportunity for those of us who
live here to give back to the community, to contribute to a non-profit
organization that changes lives every day (and not just the lives of the little
brothers and sisters, either, but the lives of their big brothers and sisters,
too). We raised our glasses on Saturday night, and we celebrated another
successful year for the SMS Wine Auction – and the success of another of our
incredible local non-profit organizations. And frankly I cannot imagine a
better reason to drink a glass of wine (or ten), can you?
My sincere thanks to the
SMS Wine Auction
for the kind invitation to attend -
and to
Big Brothers and Big Sisters
for all they do for the children in our community :)
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