The wine grapes were first planted by the Romans in southwestern Gaul (France) in the first century. Although the wine industry in the region collapsed along with the Roman Empire, it made a comeback during the early Middle Ages. Rumor has it that Bordeaux produced a light violet-colored rosé called Clareit. (In Latin, claritas means "clarity" or "brightness.") Some historians claim that Bordeaux's wine was originally made not because of its quality, but due to Bordeaux's unique commercial position at the mouth of the Garonne River.
The region’s fate took a famous turn in the 12th century when the soon-to-be King of England, Henry II, married Eleanor, bringing the entire Duchy of Aquitaine under his influence. When this happened, Bordeaux came under English control, securing access to Claret for three centuries. With the end of the Plantagenet dynasty, English dominance in Bordeaux ended, but England's romantic affair with Claret—by the 18th century had become the name for the dark, bold, high-quality red wine of the region—continued to endure. Today, it's a protected name in the European Union. Whatever you decide to call them, Bordeaux's beautiful and complex wines remain among the most beloved in the world.
Throughout history, it’s often politics—not taste—that determines our favorite drink. This shows that at a royal wedding in Spain, everyone drinks sherry. When a Dutch prince suddenly ascends the English throne, gin suddenly becomes the drink of choice. The same goes for Bordeaux and its wine, which for centuries was known as the drink of the English, the clarete, or light red Bordeaux wine.
Bordeaux was colonized by the Romans, not primarily to plant vineyards but because the Gironde estuary, with Bordeaux at its curve, is the largest natural harbor in Western Europe. A perfect spot for a trading port, since a map shows that the shortest route between the Mediterranean and the maritime routes to Northern European markets runs southwest from Narbonne to Bordeaux. The Romans planted vineyards—particularly around Blaye, Bourg, and Saint-Émilion on the right bank of the Gironde—but when their empire fell, Bordeaux’s wine trade faded away. During the Middle Ages, the smaller port of La Rochelle to the north was much more prosperous, initially for its salt exports, but soon also for its wine. Again, it wasn’t about the quality of the wine, but about filling ships. Commerce, not taste.
In the 14th century, some estimates suggest that Bordeaux shipped enough wine to Great Britain so that each man, woman, and child had six bottles each. Happiness. Of course, these are statistics, not related to alcohol consumption by minors.
And so, this drink that heralds Christmas in Paraguay speaks for itself. The beverage adapts to local traditions, as it is consumed or ready to digest when the wine has been mixed with juice, soda, and cider, giving it the characteristic touch typical of this wine.
The tradition of its arrival in South America is thought to date back to around 1700, in the regions near the Rio de la Plata in Uruguay. Over the years, it was further adapted with ingredients specific to the Paraguayan Christmas table.
