Bordeaux’s wine makers are reintroducing claret, a historic style of red wine, from the 2025 harvest. Claret has roots in the 12th century as a favourite red wine shipped to Britain. The new Bordeaux claret will be lighter, less tannic and have lower alcohol than recent full-bodied Bordeaux reds. This move reflects rising temperatures that affect how grapes ripen. Stéphanie Sinoquet, managing director of the Bordeaux growers’ group, said, “Some impacts have been a ‘positive challenge’,” as producers adopt heat-resistant grapes and aim for better, consistent ripeness. Warmer weather has caused alcohol levels to rise, often reaching 15%. Jean-Raymond Clarenc of Grands Chais de France said the new claret style is “a strategic response to these environmental shifts.” It uses shorter maceration and focuses on freshness over power to make balanced wines in hotter years. Wine drinkers now prefer lighter, fruitier reds that can be chilled between 8-12°C. Sinoquet added, “Fresher and fruitier styles are perceived as more relaxed and inclusive,” and fit casual drinking outside meals. Bordeaux’s strong, aged reds won acclaim but became pricey and less popular. Tony Laithwaite, founder of wine retailer Laithwaites, said, “A 50-year boom is over, vineyards are being abandoned.” Demand is dropping in China and France, with a shift toward white wines. Jonathan Kleeman, a sommelier, noted millennials prefer wines ready to drink rather than costly collectors’ bottles. “The new category is going to be interesting,” he said, noting it “harks back to the old days” when Bordeaux wines were simpler. He believes the claret name will not confuse younger customers who rarely use the term. Kleeman also highlighted trends like pétillant naturel sparkling wines and using amphorae vessels in natural wine making. Sommelier Tom Claxton added the new clarets will be lighter and more playful than Burgundy’s famous Pinot Noirs. Bordeaux’s return to claret shows how tradition meets climate and market changes in the wine world.