New series offers a taste of history with Canada’s most decorated sommelier

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

For immediate release

Gatineau, Quebec, April 4, 2018 — The Canadian Museum of History invites you to a series of tastings inspired by historical eras and events. The tastings will be led by renowned sommelier Véronique Rivest, the first woman ever to reach the podium, where she placed second, at the World’s Best Sommelier Competition. Guided by Rivest’s expertise, you will be able to taste food and drink related to Museum exhibitions and their content.

The series begins on Saturday, April 28, with a sparkling wine tasting on the theme of Confederation, where you will experience what the Fathers of Confederation ate and drank at the 1864 Charlottetown Conference. Next, on Saturday, June 9, there will be a rum tasting inspired by the exhibition Death in the Ice — The Mystery of the Franklin Expedition. A wine tasting inspired by an upcoming exhibition on Medieval Europe will follow in September. In December, there will be a beer tasting on the theme of Expo 67.

“We are pleased to be able to connect the participants to exhibition stories using several of their senses,” said Jean-Marc Blais, Director General of the Canadian Museum of History. “They will be able to enjoy a first-hand experience of what people ate and drank at some of Canada’s defining moments. We are literally going to give them a taste of history.”

In 2019, whisky will be the spirit of choice for a tribute to D’Arcy McGee, and a gin tasting will take you back to Prohibition-era Canada. Cider will be the focus of a tasting reflecting life in British North America, and the series will conclude with a sampling of holiday wines enjoyed during the days of New France. Dates for these events will be announced in the coming months.

Museum curators will also be present at each event, linking both food and drink to the historical context. You will be encouraged to ask these experts questions as you explore how the evening’s menu reflects the past.

Tickets for each event: $95 ($90 for Members). Get your tickets online or by phone at 819-776-7000. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Participants must be at least 18 years of age to attend. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

More information is available at historymuseum.ca or by calling 819-776-7000 or 1-800-555-5621.

Work of the Canadian Museum of History is made possible in part through financial support of the Government of Canada.

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