English/Bordeaux

[Thomas]

In the 12th century, Eleanor of Aquitane married the soon-to-become king of England. The marriage solidified Bordeaux as a British holding, including all the wines. The British became wine merchants with Gascons. The arrangement became the seed for the Medieval 100 Years Wars between France and England.

Back then, the grape named Clairette (sp) was grown near and around Bordeaux--still is, I believe. Also, Bordeaux was among the earliest French wine regions to use eggwhite to fine and clarify its wines. Somehow, a combination of the clarified wines and the name of that grape morphed into Claret, the term only the British use for all Bordeaux red wines.



[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 04-15-2005).]