Photo by Karyna Panchenko on Unsplash
“Claret” (rhymes with Carrot) is a traditional British term for red wine from Bordeaux.
The term is derived from the word clairet in French which originally referred to a light-colored, pale red wine that was popular in medieval England after Bordeaux became part of the English crown in the 12th–15th centuries. They were short fermentation wines (1-2 days). The short fermentation and skin-contact time of these wines probably resulted in wines that we’d call a rosé today.
But, over time, the meaning has shifted away from those early pale red wines. Today, in Britain, claret simply means a dry red wine from the Bordeaux region of France. These blends are usually made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc (sometimes with Petit Verdot and Malbec).
So, the term “Claret” isn’t an official French wine classification. And, you’re not going to find “Claret” on labels from France. But the term is still widely used in the UK and US for red wine blends.
Next time you see “Claret” on a wine label or on a wine list, give it a try! Cheers!