Wine culture around the world: traditions and customs from elsewhere
Spain – Battle of Wine
Every year on June 29th, it is the feast of Saint Peter in Spain. On this special day, Haro (a small town located in the Rioja region) hosts a mysterious event: the " Batalla del Vino de Haro ". The principle? Thousands of people dressed in white and a red scarf climb a mountain to reach a hermitage. At the end of the journey, just after mass, it's time for the wine battle! Plastic guns, bottles, buckets... Anything goes.
Ukraine - Bride's shoe
A traditional Ukrainian wedding goes like this: To prevent her shoe from being stolen, the bride must keep her feet on the ground throughout the reception. If a guest manages to steal one, all the other guests must then pass the shoe from hand to hand to drink wine from it. Cinderella, festive version.
Georgia - The Supra
In Georgia, Supra is a banquet where the guests make many toasts. The tamada, the central character of the meal (often the eldest) tells stories and makes toasts. When he wants, as much as he wants: in short, he has carte blanche. When the tamada speaks, everyone is silent. And when he drinks, everyone raises their glass and drinks it in one gulp. This tradition can last for hours, to the point that up to 10 liters of wine can be drunk per guest!
France - Le Chabrot
In the South West of France, "faire Chabrot" is part of the common language. It is a peasant custom that has been transformed into an epicurean gesture. The principle: just before finishing your bowl of soup, you add a little wine and hey presto, you swallow it all in one go. That way, you don't lose a drop!
Portugal - The sabering of Porto
In France, champagne is sabred. In Portugal, it is Porto. Widely practiced for old bottles, the sabrage technique is part of the customs and traditions, simply because it prevents the cork, already weakened by time, from crumbling. The neck is surrounded by heated tongs which are then removed to cover it with an iced cloth and create a thermal shock. Result: the cut is clean and the Porto is ready to be consumed without debris!
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