| Rara Neagră | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
| Rara Neagră grapes in a Purcari region vineyard | |
| Species | Vitis Vinifera |
| Also called | In Romania: Băbească Neagră, in Moldova: Bobiasca Neagră, Crăcănat, Răşchirata, Râmţurata, Căldăruşa, in Ukraine: Sereksia, Rastrepa, Rastopyrka, Stropatyi, Rehavo Grozdi, Tsotler, Sasser. |
| Origin | Moldova |
| Notable regions | Nistreana |
| Notable wines | Negru de Purcari |
Rara Neagră (Romanian pronunciation: [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.