Temecula winemakers to attempt world record-breaking toast

California’s Temecula Valley is gearing up to attempt the biggest ever ‘wine relay toast’ on Tuesday 26 April, and hopes the stunt will boost international awareness of its wines.

The longest relay wine toast is a sequential toast where participants clink glasses in order, from start to finish, rather than everyone clinking glasses simultaneously.

The current Guinness World Record for a relay toast of any drink is held by Coca-Cola, which snatched the crown in 2019 when 1,300 people toasted with bottles of the soft drink in Bangkok’s Siam Square.

However, in 2021, Napa Valley sub-region St. Helena set a new world record for the longest wine-specific relay toast when 487 people gathered at Charles Krug Winery to raise their glasses.

Now, Southern Californian wine region Temecula Valley is going all out to smash the record. According to its Facebook page, 753 people have expressed an interest in attending Temecula City Hall is looking for volunteers to help out during the event, which will take place in Old Town Temecula next week.

Participants will receive an exclusive branded wine glass, and local businesses have clubbed together to offer special discounts. According to event organisers, those who take part will also earn all-important “bragging rights” to say that they were there when the momentous occasion happened.

Known as the “jewel of Riverside County”, Temecula grows and produces more than 50 different varieties of wine; from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to Mourvedre, Viognier, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Approximately 995 hectares are currently planted in commercial vineyards.