History

• Touching glasses came along with the rise of glassware as a popular vessel for wine drinking. Parties are meant to bring people together and touching glasses symbolizes the wine which has been separated being brought back together. The clinking sound also adds an aural experience to the taste, smell, visual and mouth feel of drinking.
  
  

Misconceptions

• It has been theorized that touching glasses prior to drinking became popular during the beginning of the Christian era. Historians refute this claim sighting that most drinking vessels of the time were shared by the whole group and made of wood or metal.
  
  

Significance

• A formal toast is a very customary way to start an event and touching glasses gives guests a chance to interact and show goodwill. Common ground is often found through shared experience and a toast gives everyone in attendance a moment of togetherness.
  
  

Warning

• Clinking glasses together with too much enthusiasm may lead to spilled drinks and broken glasses. This party faux pas is easily avoided by simply looking the other person in the eye and raising your glass in one gentle motion as you ease the glasses together.
  
  

Fun Fact

• Fine crystal stemware rings with a very true tone when two glasses are touched together. A party host may raise a toast and induce clinking to show both the quality of the wine they are serving and the quality of the glasses it is being served in.