At first the term "claret" referred only to red wine from Medoc, but later to red wine from anywhere in Bordeaux.
Wine Lingo
Claret
(KLA rret)
DISCOVER - July 21, 2009
On Sunday, along the shores of Western Scotland, Stewart Cink, winner of the 138th Open Championship, hoisted the Claret Jug! This grand trophy was made in the image of the silver jugs commonly used to pour wine in 19th Century England. High above the ceremonies in the elegant dining rooms of the Turnberry Hotel, glasses of claret were no doubt raised to honor the new champion golfer of the year.
Mere mortal American enjoyers of wine and golf can be forgiven for referring to the world's oldest golf championship as the "British Open" or for ordering a "claret from Burgundy." In the Queen's English, it's "klarret" not "klaray" and it's not from Burgundy.
In medieval France wine was fermented only for a short time thus producing a wine light in color, probably closer to that of a modern rosé. Great volumes of these dark pink wines, known as "clairet" in French, were sent from Bordeaux to thirsty Englishmen. In time the word became "claret" in English.
Ask your wine snob friends which claret they prefer. Make silent note of the answer if the choice is not a red Bordeaux.
Our Wine Lingo series discusses common but often unclear wine language.
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