Rara neagra
Encyclopedia
Rara Neagră (ˈrara ˈne̯aɡrə) is an indigenous Moldovan
dark-skinned variety of grape
used for red wine
. The name translates as The loose black (grape). (Loose - as opposed to tight bunch) It is a late-ripening variety that gives red wines which are typically dark colored, rich in acid and may exhibit a pronounced fruity character. Rara Neagră is responsible for the fame of the Purcari
wines in the 18th century, before Cabernet Sauvignon
was introduced in Moldova
. This variety is used as a important blend component in the most famous Purcari wine, Negru de Purcari
.
The grape is also grown in Romania
, where it is called Băbească Neagră
(in particular in the Nicoreşti region) and in Ukraine
, where it is called Sereksia.
Rara Neagră can also be found on limited acreages in the Finger Lakes
region of New York State, where this variety was originally successfully cultivated by Dr. Frank
. Called Sereksiya Charni here (the Russian
name), it is used there to create an aromatic, fruity red wine (called "Black Russian"), blended with Saperavi
and having excellent aging potential.
The variety also has a pink mutation which is called Babească Gris in Romania and Sereksyia Rose in Finger Lakes.
Rara Neagră also has a few variations: Copceac
– a variation with bigger berries, Coada Rândunicii (Swallowtail) - a variation with a bisected bunch and Coada Vulpii (Foxtail) — a variation that has a cylindrical prolongation of the bunch.
Moldovan wine
With a production of 124,200 tons of wine , Moldova has a well established wine industry. It has a vineyard area of of which are used for commercial production. The remaining are vineyards planted in villages around the houses used to make home-made wine, or "vin de casa"...
dark-skinned variety of grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
used for red wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
. The name translates as The loose black (grape). (Loose - as opposed to tight bunch) It is a late-ripening variety that gives red wines which are typically dark colored, rich in acid and may exhibit a pronounced fruity character. Rara Neagră is responsible for the fame of the Purcari
Purcari
Purcari is a commune in the Ştefan Vodă district of Moldova. It is composed of two villages, Purcari and Viişoara.-See also:* Purcari wine region* Purcari...
wines in the 18th century, before Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
was introduced in Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
. This variety is used as a important blend component in the most famous Purcari wine, Negru de Purcari
Negru de Purcari
Negru de Purcari is a quality red dry Moldovan wine, produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Rara Neagră and Saperavi grapes. The wine has a dark ruby, saturated color.-Areas of production:...
.
The grape is also grown in Romania
Romanian wine
Romania is one of the world's largest wine producers, producing around 610,000 tons of wine. In recent years, Romania has attracted many European business people and wine buyers, due to the affordable prices of both vineyards and wines compared to other wine producing nations such as France,...
, where it is called Băbească Neagră
Băbească Neagră
Băbească Neagră is an old native Romanian - Moldovan wine grape variety. It is cultivated in the south of Moldova and in Romania , and is the second most planted grape variety in Romania, with about in 2005...
(in particular in the Nicoreşti region) and in Ukraine
Ukrainian wine
The wine industry of Ukraine is well-established with long traditions. Several brands of wine from Ukraine are exported to bordering countries, the European Union, and North America.-History:...
, where it is called Sereksia.
Rara Neagră can also be found on limited acreages in the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes AVA
The Finger Lakes AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario. The Finger Lakes encompass eleven glacial lakes, but the area around Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, and Cayuga Lakes contain the vast majority of vineyard plantings in the AVA...
region of New York State, where this variety was originally successfully cultivated by Dr. Frank
Konstantin Frank
Dr. Konstantin Frank was a viticulturist and winemaker in the Finger Lakes region of New York. He was born in Odessa, Russian Empire and received his PhD in viticulture from the University of Odessa, his thesis being on techniques for growing Vitis vinifera in a cold climate...
. Called Sereksiya Charni here (the Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
name), it is used there to create an aromatic, fruity red wine (called "Black Russian"), blended with Saperavi
Saperavi
Saperavi is an acidic, teinturier-type grape variety native to Georgia, where it is used to make many of the region's distinctive wines, along with the Alexandreuli and Rkastiteli varieties. Leaves are 3-lobed, large, and roundish...
and having excellent aging potential.
The variety also has a pink mutation which is called Babească Gris in Romania and Sereksyia Rose in Finger Lakes.
Rara Neagră also has a few variations: Copceac
Copceac, Gagauzia
Copceac is a commune and village in the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. The 2004 census listed the commune as having a population of 9,551 people. Gagauz total 9,068. Minorities included 110 Moldovans, 97 Russians, 71 Ukrainians, 144 Bulgarians and 33 Roma.Its...
– a variation with bigger berries, Coada Rândunicii (Swallowtail) - a variation with a bisected bunch and Coada Vulpii (Foxtail) — a variation that has a cylindrical prolongation of the bunch.
See also
- Negru de PurcariNegru de PurcariNegru de Purcari is a quality red dry Moldovan wine, produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Rara Neagră and Saperavi grapes. The wine has a dark ruby, saturated color.-Areas of production:...
- Băbească NeagrăBăbească NeagrăBăbească Neagră is an old native Romanian - Moldovan wine grape variety. It is cultivated in the south of Moldova and in Romania , and is the second most planted grape variety in Romania, with about in 2005...