There is no self-respecting celebration where wine glasses are not raised for a toast. Do you know the history of this popular gesture?
The origin of the term "toast" comes from the German "bring dir's" (I offer it to you), and it refers to the act of toasting with wine or liquor, or the words spoken when toasting.
The act of toasting is divided into three parts.
- The first is the verbal act, in which one of the participants indicates the reason for the toast. This is usually the host, and he or she stands up to make the toast. It can range from a simple "hello" to a word of thanks. It can be accompanied by an anecdote.
- Then, those present raise their glasses in the air, which may be accompanied by words of approval for the toast itself, and clink them with other people within reach.
- Finally, the third act, where the wish is collectively confirmed with a drink, which can be a small sip or a large sip that finishes the contents of the container.
Although the norm is to toast with the right hand, others point out that it should be done with the left, as it is the hand of the heart.
On the other hand, according to etiquette, it is not advisable to toast with an empty glass, because it is a sign of displeasure, or with water, which can be interpreted as an affront. Furthermore, depending on the culture, there are other types of toasts different from the conventional one, such as throwing glasses or breaking containers against a surface.
The tradition of clinking glasses, especially when drinking wine, dates back to the 16th century, when Charles V's army celebrated its victory after conquering Rome. The army raised their glasses shouting 'bring dir's', while the soldiers granted victory to the monarch.
According to another widespread legend, this ritual originated in ancient Greece in the 6th century BC. In that time of conquests and kingdoms, one of the most common and effective ways to assassinate a person was to poison them. Therefore, when wine was served at a banquet, the host of the banquet would clink his glass with those of his guests so that the liquid would splash and mix between them. The purpose was to show that the drink was not poisoned.
For now, let's toast with our Colline del Vento wines to life and to continue making such good wines, cheers!
