What is the origin of the toast?

One of the most common gestures in any festivity or celebration is the toast, any occasion is good to toast with a glass of wine, and that is, it is the perfect guest in any celebration that is given. But why do we toast? How does the toast come about?

The origin of the term dates back to the 16th century in 1527, when Carlos I of Spain and V of the Holy Roman Empire took and sacked Rome. The battle was justified as an offering to God, raising the glass to celebrate the victory while pronouncing the words “bring dir’s”, which translates as “I offer it to you.” This expression became Spanish over the years until it became the current toast.

But as in all stories there are other versions that go much further forward in time the origins of the toasts. These origins place it in the times of the Greeks, and it has to do with the show of confidence that the host offered to his guests and they were based on a much more practical question: avoid being poisoned.

At large banquets and receptions, which the wealthiest organized for their delight or in honour of someone, the servants served all the guests in glasses and the host raised his glass and took a drink, as a sign that the drink was good and it had no poison. At that time, the best way to eliminate enemies was by poisoning the drink. According to this theory, the act of toasting would appear as a test of trust between the guests at a banquet and their host, given the alarming proliferation of poisonings that occurred at that time. In this way, through the clash of glasses, the participants partially mixed the contents of the same. If someone did not toast, it was better not to have the drink.

The toast traditionally involves alcoholic beverages, usually champagne for special occasions or a glass of still wine. But really with what you feel most comfortable you can toast. We recommend you to have a perfect toast, our icon, Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Heredad. Cheers!