The Ptarmigan Inn was full of the sounds of conversation and corks popping from bottles on April 20, as Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 popular wine festival finally returned for the first time since the pandemic.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is the first one weSA国际影视传媒檝e had since Covid hit our communities,SA国际影视传媒� said Tom Lakusta, president of the Hay River Sunrise Rotary Club, the organization behind the event. SA国际影视传媒淚t was great. It was brilliant.

SA国际影视传媒淭he people that attended had a great time.SA国际影视传媒�

The evening featured a selection of wines curated by local sommelier Ryan Rowe. Bottles came from across Canada and the United States, and also from regions like Australia, South America and Europe.

None of the wines had been served in town before.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e fortunate to have a sommelier in town who helped select new wines for people to try,SA国际影视传媒� said Lakusta. SA国际影视传媒淭hese were all brand new wines in Hay River.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think I had four or five different wines over the course of the evening SA国际影视传媒� it was just fun. You take a sip of one wine, and youSA国际影视传媒檙e like SA国际影视传媒極h, this is really good.SA国际影视传媒� You try another wine half an hour later, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 itSA国际影视传媒檚 different, but really good, too.SA国际影视传媒�

There was plenty to eat at the event as well with catering provided by the hotel, whose chef collaborated with Rowe to provide food that combined well with the wines on offer.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause we have a sommelier and a high quality chef and hotel to work with, we were able to pair the wines with foods,SA国际影视传媒� said Lakusta. SA国际影视传媒淭hat was kind of unique and fun.SA国际影视传媒�

In addition to the wine tasting, there was also an art auction with distinct local flare. Every piece up for bids was handcrafted by residents of Hay River.

The auction portion of the event, which was intended to fundraise and also support local artisans and craftspeople, was organized by Rotary member Heather Love.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had everything from paintings to professional photography to childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 books to hand-woven tote bags,SA国际影视传媒� Love said. SA国际影视传媒淭here was necklaces, earrings, stained-glass, metal silhouette art SA国际影视传媒� a very unique mixture, which is ideal, and it was all local.SA国际影视传媒�

With a successful event in the books, Love said she is hoping some of the attendees will consider joining the Rotary Club, which has struggled with membership at times.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur club is very small, and for us to be able to continue to put these kinds of events on, we really need to have people step up and become members of Rotary,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Lakusta, meanwhile, is looking forward to planning another wine festival in the not-too-distant future.

SA国际影视传媒淓very wine festival we do has its good points and things we can improve on,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e will certainly do this again, and look at the things we can do to improve the festival more. WeSA国际影视传媒檒l go back and do some forensics on what happened on Sunday to see how we can make the next one even better.SA国际影视传媒�