🍷 Claret

Claret is the old British name for red wine from Bordeaux. The word comes from the French clairet, meaning light or pale. In the Middle Ages Bordeaux wines were paler than today, almost pink, and the English named them after their colour.

From the 12th century Bordeaux belonged to the English crown, and wine travelled to England in barrels on ships. The link lasted: British merchants shaped the Bordeaux trade for centuries. That history explains the long British interest in Bordeaux wines, including the 1855 classification.

Today claret in Britain means any red Bordeaux, usually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It is an informal word, not an official category, and it appears more often on menus and in shops than on labels. Do not confuse claret with clairet, a separate light, deep-pink Bordeaux style that is closer to those old wines.