What does bordeaux mean?
Bordeaux refers above all to the celebrated red wines produced around the city of Bordeaux in southwestern France, where grapes such as cabernet sauvignon and merlot are blended into some of the world's most prestigious and age-worthy bottles. The word doubles as the name of the region itself and, by extension, of any wine from it — white as well as red, though the red is what most people mean. Beyond the cellar, bordeaux has entered everyday language as the name of a rich, dark purplish-red color, used for everything from lipstick and paint to sports cars and evening gowns. British drinkers have long called red bordeaux 'claret,' a distinctly British borrowing. Whether describing a glass at dinner or a shade on a swatch card, bordeaux carries connotations of elegance, tradition, and refinement, making it a useful word in both culinary and aesthetic contexts.
A dry red wine from the Bordeaux region of southwestern France, typically a blend based on cabernet sauvignon, merlot, or both.
"He cellared the bordeaux for a decade before opening it at his daughter's wedding."
Often used without an article when referring to the wine generically; British speakers may prefer the synonym 'claret' for red bordeaux.
A dark purplish-red color resembling that of bordeaux wine.
"The bridesmaids wore floor-length gowns in a rich bordeaux."
The plural is uncommon; speakers usually refer to specific wines by vintage or producer rather than counting bordeauxs. When used, it typically refers to multiple distinct bordeaux wines.
"The cellar held several distinguished bordeauxs from different vintages."
In France, 'bordeaux' names both a city and its wine — but in Britain, red bordeaux was long known as 'claret,' a word borrowed straight from French wine slang meaning 'clear, pale wine.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bordeaux
The word bordeaux comes directly from French, named after the port city of Bordeaux, whose name derives ultimately from the ancient Roman settlement Burdigala. English adopted the place name for its wine, and the term has been used in English since at least the nineteenth century for the region's wines. The related British term 'claret' comes from the French 'clarin' or 'clairet,' referring to the lighter-bodied red wine historically exported from Bordeaux. As a color name, bordeaux follows the common pattern of naming shades after wines.
How bordeaux is actually used
As a wine term, 'bordeaux' typically appears without an article when referring to the wine generally ('I prefer bordeaux'), though it can take one in specific contexts ('a fine old bordeaux'). In American English it also functions as a color adjective ('a bordeaux dress'). British speakers more traditionally say 'claret' for the red wine.
Easily confused with bordeaux
Burgundy is a red wine from the Burgundy region of eastern France, made primarily from pinot noir grapes, whereas bordeaux comes from southwestern France and is typically a blend dominated by cabernet sauvignon or merlot.
Claret is the traditional British term specifically for red Bordeaux wine; bordeaux is the broader name covering all wines (red and white) of the region.