🍷 Clarete
A light Spanish red wine, sometimes made from a mix of white and dark grapes.
Clarete is the Spanish name for a pale red wine. In colour it sits between rosé and red wine. The word is related to French clairet and English claret, but in Spain it means a light, pale wine.
Traditionally clarete was made from a mix of dark and white grapes fermented together. Today it is more often made from one dark variety with short skin contact. The result is fresh and fruity, with light tannins.
Clarete is known in Castilla y León, especially in Cigales, and in Rioja, a DOCa zone. Spanish rules allow the word clarete on the label of wines with a protected origin. It is served chilled, like rosé, in summer and with simple food: grilled meat, tapas, vegetables. It belongs to Spanish wine, but the style is rarely seen abroad.
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Rosé
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Spanish wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Rosé, 🍷 Red wine, 🏷️ DOCa / DOQ
Frequently asked questions
Is clarete a rosé or a red?
Something in between: darker than rosé but lighter and paler than a typical red.
How is Spanish clarete different from English claret?
In England claret means red Bordeaux, while Spanish clarete is a separate style of pale red wine.
Where is clarete made?
Mostly in Cigales in Castilla y León, and also in Rioja and other Spanish areas.
Similar
🍷 Saignée rosé · 🍷 Blush wine · 🍷 Blended rosé · 🍷 Vin gris · 🍷 Clairet · 🍷 Chiaretto
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.