Claret
A deep red shade matching the colour of Bordeaux wine
Claret is a dark red colour that matches the average shade of Bordeaux wine. The name has been used in English since 1547 and is also called Bordeaux, though 'Bordeaux' is more common in other European languages.
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- Claret matches the average colour of Bordeaux wine
- Also called Bordeaux, especially in other languages
- First used as a colour name in English in 1547
What colour is Claret?
Claret is a deep, rich red colour, closely matching the typical shade of Bordeaux wine. It stands out from other reds by its darker, wine-inspired tone, which gives it a sense of depth and subtlety. The colour sits between red and purple, but is most often described as a dark red.
Where does Claret come from?
The name 'claret' comes from the English term for Bordeaux wine, and the colour is meant to represent the average shade of this wine. While 'claret' has a long history in English, first appearing as a colour name in 1547, the name 'Bordeaux' is used for the same colour in many other European languages.
Red around the world
What the red family means from country to country.
The flag uses the four Pan-Arab colours: a red bar at the hoist with green, white and black bands. It was designed by a young Emirati, Abdullah Al Maainah, in 1971.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of the United Arab EmiratesThe flag is a black double-headed eagle on red, the banner of the fifteenth-century hero Skanderbeg. Fans chant Kuq e Zi, red and black.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of AlbaniaArmenian scribes painted manuscripts with vordan karmir, a crimson dye made from an insect that lives on the roots of grasses in the Ararat plain.
Sacred and holySource: Armenian cochinealUnder Juan Manuel de Rosas in the 1830s and 1840s, everyone had to wear a scarlet ribbon to show loyalty to his Federalist party. His enemies, the Unitarians, were tied to sky blue.
Politics and protestFearSource: Juan Manuel de RosasThe flag is red, white and red. Legend says Duke Leopold V's white tunic was soaked in blood at the siege of Acre, all but the band under his belt.
Politics and protestCourageSource: Flag of AustriaRed ochre is used in Aboriginal rock art and ceremony, and is traded over long distances. In the Aboriginal flag the red half stands for the earth and for that ochre.
Sacred and holyNature and renewalAweSource: Australian Aboriginal flagShades and relatives of Claret
Claret is also known as Bordeaux, especially outside English. It is sometimes confused with other deep reds or wine-inspired shades, but its link to Bordeaux wine sets it apart. The term 'Bordeaux' is more common in non-English languages.
Colours that go with Claret
Harmonies are worked out from the value #7F1734. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Claret
What colour is claret?
Claret is a deep, dark red, closely matching the typical colour of Bordeaux wine.
Where does the name claret come from?
The name comes from the English word for Bordeaux wine, and the colour represents the average shade of this wine.
Is claret the same as Bordeaux?
Claret and Bordeaux refer to the same colour, but 'Bordeaux' is more widely used in other European languages, while 'claret' has a longer history in English.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Wine red" (the section "Claret"), written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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