Why do Brits call Bordeaux claret?

Wine from Bordeaux is usually called “Bordeaux wine” throughout the world. Well, except for the Brits of course. But, hey, you wouldn’t except less from them. They like doing things differently, don’t they?

No offense, we LOVE them nonetheless. I actually spent a few years as a kid near Stratford-upon-Avon, so I have a soft spot for you guys.

But let’s get back to the point : why do Brits do things differently? But more to the point, why do Brits call Bordeaux Claret?

You will find the answer in the second paragraph but first, bear with me, and let’s have a short vocabulary lesson. I promise, it will help you understand the answer better.

What does Claret mean?

Claret is known in France as “Vivinum Clarum”, which is Latin for “clear wine”. So the word Claret derives from the Latin which means “clair”. And this is the ONE and ONLY explanation of the origin of the word Claret.

Indeed, Bordeaux wines used to be clearer, paler. You could compare it to dark rosé if you want.

These wines had limited skin-contact (hence the color) and short fermentation time.

So now we know what Claret MEANS, let’s get back to our question.

Why do Brits call Bordeaux Claret?

Let’s go back to the Middle Ages, during the British trade.

It actually all started with Queen Eleanor, who was fond of wine. The British started trading Portuguese and Bordeaux wines. The latter were clearer than the former, so naturally they invented the term “Claret” to designate them.

As said just above, at that time the Bordeaux wines had limited skin contact and short fermentation times. Indeed, the Brits would dock in Bordeaux in the first half of October and leave at the end of November with the wine of the year. It didn’t leave much time between the harvest (which took place in October) and the delivery. This explains the short fermentation.

By the way, if you want to know more about the British trade, I wrote a whole post on it. This will help you understand the close relationship between the Brits and their Bordeaux.

Indeed, seeing as Bordeaux wines are now dark red wines with a long fermentation, why do Brits still stick with the term “Claret”? Well, the Brits do love their traditions don’t they?

So although this is a downright contradiction and still confuses a fair share of people, this term is still accepted. Actually, it’s even more than just “accepted”, the term is actually protected under the EU law!

Claret is a registered name

The UK government defined the word “Claret” as a “traditional wine term [within the Bordeaux PDO, as an] expression used to designate a pale red wine”. Well I guess that sums this up pretty well.

However, although Claret is even protected under the EU law now, it didn’t stop the Americans to start using it when making a Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

By the way, although I guess you understand it now, the word “Claret” has absolutely no link with any grape variety. Cabernet Sauvignon existed well in the Bordeaux region before the word “Claret” was even born. And “Clairette” is a light-colored-skin grape in the Rhône region.

Note aside, let’s get back to our Americans. The EU were not too happy about the idea of Claret describing wines outside of Bordeaux, so both parties came to an agreement in 2006 : the Americans are, since then, forbidden to use the words “Chianti”, “Champagne” and “Claret” on the labels of their bottles onward.

Claret in Australia

Okey, so if the Americans are forbidden to use the word “Claret”, how come the Australian get away with it?

Well let’s not forget : the Brits invented the term Claret so naturally it made its way to Australia (being part of the Commonwealth and all).

Yalumba winerie in Australia made the first Claret wines in the 1880s. This wine was then sent to the British Raj in India, who enjoyed his Claret wine.

Although Bordeaux Claret wines are mostly a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, in Australia, it’s mostly blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and … Shiraz.

Video : Why do Brits call Bordeaux Claret

All in all, why do Brits call Bordeaux Claret? Well, the short answer is that Bordeaux wines used to be clear. The French word being “clair”, the Brits invented the Claret term and stuck with it since the Middle Ages.

This term is protected by the EU law so it can’t be used to designate other wines. Even the Americans failed at trying to steal the names. However, the Australians, through their history, are tolerated. However, the Australian Claret is very different to the Bordeaux Claret, seeing as the blend is different!

If you enjoyed the post, leave a comment with your thoughts or questions on which Claret wine is the best and sign up to the newsletter to have exclusive access to my posts!

And if you want to push your knowledge in wine history in Bordeaux, check out my other articles about the rise of the Bordeaux region and the famous “Bordeaux privilège” or the influence of the Dutch in Bordeaux.