Gift of the Gods: The Art of Wine from the Ancient World to Canadian Vineyards

2004-2005: Special Exhibitions Gallery E

Organized by the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto, Gift of the Gods: The Art of Wine from the Ancient World to Canadian Vineyards helps visitors delve into the compelling myths, symbolism and traditions associated with wine and wine drinking for over 7,000 years. Presented by the Société des alcools du Québec, this fascinating exhibition is brought to life by 250 exquisite artifacts, the majority of which are from the ROM, with additions from the collections of Brock University and Wilfrid Laurier University.

A special part of the exhibition, developed by the Canadian Museum of Civilization, is devoted to Canada's own 400-year-old wine-making tradition, including the outstanding wine-making traditions brought by Italian and German immigrants. Visitors will also learn about the temperance movement in nineteenth-century Canada, the rapid growth of new Canadian wines and wineries from the 1970s to the 1990s, and the superb achievements of Canadian wine-makers who are winning international acclaim today.