Variety
RedBăbească Neagră
Also known as: Rară Neagră, Schwarze Großmuttertraube
The 'black grandmother grape' of Nicorești: pale, fresh reds with sour cherry, cranberry and pepper, little tannin – Moldavia's everyday red, ideal lightly chilled.
Portrait
Băbească Neagră, the "black grandmother grape", is a native Romanian red variety said to go back to Geto-Dacian times. In the early 17th century red wines from Nicorești made with this grape are said to have been praised by Cardinal Richelieu. It is grown mainly in Nicorești, Odobești, Cotești and Panciu; in the Republic of Moldova it is known as Rară Neagră, for example in Purcari.
The grapes ripen at the end of September, and the variety is highly productive. The wines are ruby red, at 10 to 11.5 % alcohol and with an acidity of 5 to 6 g/l, high for a red, hence fresh and light. Typical are sour cherry, cranberry and pepper with little tannin. They are served at 10 to 15 °C; the moderate alcohol and acidity also suit rosé sparkling wine. The mutation Băbească Gri gives white wine.
Băbească Neagră pairs with poultry and meat dishes.
Taste profile
Six axes — acidity, sweetness, body, tannin, aroma intensity and depth — on a 0–5 scale, based on typical style. Real wines vary by region and producer.
Typical aromas — Băbească Neagră
These 4 aromas typically define Băbească Neagră. Actual taste experience varies by region and style.
Sour cherry
Cranberry
Pepper
Redcurrant
Băbească Neagră aroma families
These aroma categories are characteristic of Băbească Neagră. Other varieties have different focuses.
Fruit aromas are the most common and come directly from the grape, ranging from citrus through stone fruit to black berries.
Spicy aromas often emerge from oak aging (vanilla, clove) or with maturity (black pepper).
Tertiary aromas that develop with bottle aging – typical of mature top wines.
Key regions
Băbească Neagră is grown in the following regions of our atlas. Click to see wineries.
Wineries with Băbească Neagră
10 curated profiles in our atlas grow Băbească Neagră.
10 wineries
Crama Gîrboiu
Rumänische Moldau · Cotești · Dumbrăveni
Șarba, Plăvaie, Fetească Neagră
Caii de la Letea
Dobrudscha · Sarica-Niculițel
Aligoté, Băbească Neagră, Busuioacă de Bohotin
Casa de Vinuri Nicorești
Rumänische Moldau · Nicorești · Nicorești
Băbească Neagră, Fetească Neagră
Crama Dealu Bujorului
Rumänische Moldau · Dealu Bujorului
Fetească Regală, Fetească Albă, Băbească Gri
Crama Tata si Fiul
Rumänische Moldau · Cotești
Fetească Albă, Riesling, Muscat Ottonel
Crama Vinnoir – Domeniul Nicorești
Rumänische Moldau · Nicorești · Nicorești
Băbească Neagră
Domaine Vinarte – Castel Bolovanu
Muntenien & Oltenien · Dealurile Buzăului
Tămâioasă Românească, Riesling Italico, Sauvignon Blanc
Domaine Vinarte – Castel Starmina
Muntenien & Oltenien · Plaiurile Drâncei
Tămâioasă Românească, Riesling Italico, Sauvignon Blanc
Domeniile Nicorești
Rumänische Moldau · Nicorești · Nicorești
Băbească Neagră, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Albă