But if you’re just getting to grips with red wine, it may be a bit confusing when you try to learn a bit more about the word claret.
It seems to mean different things to different people, and often seems to be used to describe other types of fine wine too.
So what is a claret ?
Key takeaways
The expression claret describes bordeaux style red wines. EU law is protecting the use of this british term for pale red wines from the Bordeaux region
Bordeaux wine lovers in Britain established this term during the reign of Henry II as large amounts of Bordeaux wine were imported to England and Scottland
It is mainly made from the classic Bordeaux grape varietals such as cab sauv, merlot, malbec or petit verdot to yield mostly blends
What are Claret wines?
That is the question that we are going to answer for you today! We’re going to cover clarets in a little more detail so that you have all the info you need to hand.
We’ll also cover what foods to pair your clarets wine with, what the difference is between claret wine and Cabernet Sauvignon wine, as well as how to store your bottle of claret wine.
Is a Claret a Bordeaux wine?
So what is a claret wine? Claret is just the unofficial term that is used to describe red Bordeaux wines by british wine lovers.
Typically, claret refers to the wine making a pale red bordeaux wine that comes from this region. So where does this term “claret” even come from?
A French term
It is thought that the term claret comes from the French word “clairet”, which typically refers to a dark pink wine that comes from Bordeaux. Claret is typically a term used by british wine lovers rather than an American term.
The term claret is often unofficially used to describe other types of red wine, but true claret only refers to red wines that come from the grapes in the Bordeaux region. You can find the term claret on wine labels of simple red bordeaux wine in english supermarkets. Nowadays only very small quantities are sold under this label in fact it has almost completely disappeared from the market.
What Is The Difference Between Claret And Cabernet Sauvignon?
There is a major difference between claret and Cabernet Sauv, the most notable difference being that claret is simply a term to refer tasting notes used to red Bordeaux wines, rather than a type of grape.
So these types grape varieties of wines tend to be Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec
So some claret wines contain Cabernet Sauv, whereas not all Cabernet Sauvs are claret.
In order for wines to be given the label of claret, the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon will need to have been grown, harvested, and produced within the Bordeaux region of France and blended into a bordeaux style red wine and stored in french oak.
If you were to select a Cabernet Sauv from Bordeaux, it would be best to pair it with fatty foods such as beef, pork, or roast chicken.
Similar style to Cabernet Sauvignon, a Cabernet Franc should be paired with fatty foods. This type of claret will work particularly well with beef burgers, roasted pork, meatballs in a tomato sauce, turkey, roasted duck, grilled lamb, or venison.
A Merlot should be paired with a range of foods, because it is one of the more versatile types of claret wines. It pairs well with salty foods and fatty foods, as well as tomato based or vegetable based meals.
A Petit Verdot should be paired with nutty dishes, or foods that feature mushrooms, eggplant, black beans, truffles, olives, and kidney beans as ingredients.
It also works well with a range of cheeses, including gouda, cheddar, and gruyere.
How To Store Your Bottle Of Claret Wine
Thanks to the natural acidity and tannins in bordeaux style red wines, this means claret wines tend to last you a little longer than rosé, white, and champagne wines.
However, you will still need to store it correctly in order to enjoy the red wine. Ideally, you should store your red Bordeaux wines in a wine cellar. This will give it the cool, dark conditions it needs to thrive and age well over time.
If you don’t have a wine cellar, then a wine fridge will do the trick. If you’re serious about your wine, this will only really be a short term fix.
It will also be worth looking into when your red wine is intended to be enjoyed. Not all Bordeaux wines will do well when kept in the dark for long periods of time, with some being intended to be enjoyed after 5 years or so.
So it will be best to work out when you drink your claret wine rather than leave it in your wine cellar or wine fridge for several years.
In Summary
And there you have it! Even though it sounds like it’s a type of wine in its own right, claret is just the unofficial term that is sometimes used to describe red Bordeaux wines
This is a term that has been popularized by the British, and can sometimes be used to name bordeaux grape varieties to describe other types of red wines that haven’t actually been produced from Bordeaux.
In order to be a true claret wine, however, the red wine will need to have been grown, harvested, and produced in the Bordeaux region of France.
Some claret wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. So the next time you think about ordering claret off the menu, why not pay a little more attention to the label to see what variant of red, Bordeaux style, wine you’ll get!
ChristinaDay
Hi, my name is Christina Day, and I am a self-proclaimed wine connoisseur. It is my favorite alcoholic drink, and I enjoy nothing better than kicking back on the sofa after a long week of work to enjoy a glass of wine… or two!
