blog

The History of Toasting with Sparkling Wine

The convivial effervescence of a glass of bubbly is the ultimate marker of a truly special occasion. From birthdays and graduations to weddings and the holiday season, a sparkling wine toast commemorates memorable events in our lives and recognizes the significance of the occasion. But why has toasting become such an iconic marker of celebration?

Friends drinking Aphrodise on a yacht at sea

Read on to explore the history behind toasting with sparkling wine, including the myths and symbolism associated with this iconic celebratory ritual.

The Birth of Sparkling Wine

An age-old myth claims the first sparkling wines were actually created by mistake in 1697 by Dom Pérignon, a French Benedictine monk, who was working to refine the process of winemaking.

However, as early as 1662, Christopher Merrett, an English scientist and naturalist, published a newspaper column reporting that English winemakers had been adding sugar to wines to create sparkling wine’s quintessential bubbliness and fizz. This publication was also the first time that the beverage had been described as “sparkling”. This suggests that England is actually sparkling wine’s true country of origin.

The Origins of Toasting

The act of toasting can be traced back to ancient civilisations. It is believed that the practice began in ancient Greece and Rome where participants in feasts would raise their drinking cups to honor the gods, wish good health, or strengthen bonds among friends. Interestingly, the term “toast” is said to come from the tradition of adding spiced toast to wine to improve its flavour.

By the Middle Ages, toasting had evolved into a social custom among the elite. Toasting symbolized friendship, good fortune, and the sharing of joy, laying the foundation for modern toasting rituals.

A group of women celebrating, pouring glasses of sparkling wine

Toasting Myths and Symbolism

A widely believed myth claims that toasting originated out of a fear of poisoning. The idea was that clinking glasses together forcefully would cause the contents of each glass to spill into the others, reducing the likelihood of someone poisoning your glass as they would, in essence, be poisoning themselves. There is no factual evidence to support this, making it a mere myth.

However, there is evidence to suggest that clinking glasses was originally thought to keep evil spirits at bay, or that the clinking sound was meant to replicate church bells. Ultimately, today, toasting is seen as symbolizing conviviality, hospitality, and good health. It is almost seen as a verbal souvenir by which attendees to a celebratory event can remember their time spent with loved ones commemorating a joyful occasion.