Distrust and intrigue

We raise a glass to give a sense of occasion. We toast our friends. We toast the bride and groom. We toast in the New Year…

But the history of the “toast” is much more sinister, one that betrays distrust and intrigue.

In the 6th century B.C. a Greek host would pour wine from a pitcher, then drink his wine to show his guests that the wine was not poisoned. The Romans added a twist to this safety procedure: they added toasted breadcrumbs to reduce the acidity of poor quality wine, sometimes adding spices to give more flavor to the wine. This practice spread throughout Europe and eventually to England, where Rowena (daughter of Saxon leader Hengist) offered the classic toast to British King Vortigean: “Louerd King, waes haell” (Lord King, be of health). This, of course, is the origin of the modern day “wassail.”

In the Middle Ages powerful families made powerful enemies, so it became common practice to prevent poisoning by clinking glasses to spill wine from one glass to another. The custom of adding a piece of toast to the bottom of a communal glass began in the 16th century: the last person to drink from the glass was obliged to consume the toast. In time, as toasts became more numerous and complicated, it became commonplace for a “toastmaster” to oversee the proceedings.

On the special occasions we now reserve for toasting, my favorite toast remains:

“To wives and lovers… may they never meet.”

THIS WEEK’S PICK
Many a folk will be delighted by the latest release of Sandbanks Estates 2011 Waves Chardonnay ($16.95). The faithful following for this wine—crafted by Catherine Langlois—will not be disappointed. The wine offers a charming bouquet of white flowers and citrus, with lots of green apple and papaya, that follows through to a clean citrus finish.

This wine is presently available at the Sandbanks winery located at 17598 Loyalist Parkway, just west of Wellington.