Pope Leo XIII's Cocaine-Laced Wine Endorsement Sparks Curiosity

Pope Leo XIII, renowned for his prolific writings, found energy in Vin Mariani, a Bordeaux wine infused with coca leaves. He openly praised its 'beneficial effects' and honored its creator, Angelo Mariani, with a Vatican gold medal, even allowing his image to promote the tonic.
Beyond the Pope, luminaries like Thomas Edison and Ulysses S. Grant endorsed Vin Mariani. Edison claimed it helped him stay awake longer, while Grant consumed it during his memoir writing. The wine's popularity highlighted the era's fascination with coca-based tonics.
In a striking twist, Vin Mariani's success inspired John Pemberton to create Pemberton's French Wine Coca, which evolved into the non-alcoholic beverage known today as Coca-Cola.