The history of the name “sospiro” dates back to the sixteenth century, in Rome. The Vatican controlled all the economy at that time, and the taxes on wine brought in a lot of revenue. The restauranteurs in that period, served wine in terracotta or metal containers, often using the container fraudulently, not pouring it up to the right  measure.  

To avoid this malpractice, Pope Sixtus V (1521-1590), decided to put an end to containers in which the wine was not visible, and to supply all the taverns with glass containers in such a way that one could  control the exact calibration of the wine that the innkeeper served him. The glass container had to bear the plumbing of the Apostolic Camera, the Ministry of Pontifical finances.

In 1588 the Pope promulgated the order, which obliged  the innkeepers to use the new glass measures, the smallest of which, equivalent to 1/10 of a liter, was called SOSPIRO, or SOTTOVOCE (so called because the customer, who was ashamed that he did not have enough money to buy a larger quantity, whispered the order…)