Slotovino: SITT London, September 18th, 2023

Rara Neagra or more commomnly Babeasca Neagra.

Rara Neagra = Babeasca Neagra, old but not so rare variety in Romania (where it is the second most planted after Merlot), Ukraine and Moldova where the synonym Rara Neagra is used. About 80 ha. are planted in Moldova.Konstantin Frank planted this grape in New York State under the name Sereksia Chornaya.

Babeasca/Rara Neagra must be a contender for the highest number of synonyms, viz:

Aldarusa, Asil Kara, Asîl Kara (in the Republic of Dagestan), Babiasca niagra, Babiaska niagra, Bobiaska niagra, Bobyaksa nigra, Bobyaska nyagra, Căldărușă, Caldarusa, Chernyi Redkii (in Ukraine), Chernyl Redkyl, Ciornai Redchii, Crăcană, Cracana, Crăcănată, Cracanata, Crecanate, Goldaroucha, Grossmuttertraube, Hexentraube, Kaouchanskii, Koldaroucha, Koldarusha, Koldursha, Koptchak, Koptchakk, Krekanat, Krekanate, Racanata, Rară Neagră, Rășchirată, Raschirata, Rastopirka, Rastopyrka, Rastrepa, Rastreppa, Rastriopa (in Moldova), Redkyi Chernyi, Rekhavo Grazdi, Rekhavo Grozdi, Rekhavo Grozdy, Richkirate, Richkiriata, Riedkym, Rimtsurate, Rimtzourate, Rindsourata, Rishki Rate, Rossmuffertraube, Rostopiska, Rostopoveska, Rychkirate, Rymourate, Rympurate, Ryshkirate, Saesser, Sassep, Sasser, Serecsia, Serecsia Ciornaia (in Moldova), Serectia, Sereksia (in Ukraine), Sereksiya Chernaya, Sereksiya Tschiornaya, Serexia, Serexia noir, Serexia Tcheurnaia, Sesser, Stropaty, Stropatyi, Tchernyi Redkii, Tcheurny Redky, Timofeevka, Tsotler, and Tsotlyar.

Talking of synonyms,

Old friends

Negru de Drăgășani (Black of Drăgășani) is a crossing created by the Drăgășani Institute in 1993. It is a crossing between a forgotten grape called Negru Vârtos and Băbească Neagră

Otskhanuri Sapere, Imereti's best variety

Otkhanuri Sapere

Otskhanuri Sapere means “Otskhana’s colourful.” Otskhana is a village in western Georgia. One of the oldest Georgian varieties, Otskhanuri Sapere grows only in the western part of the country, mostly in Racha-Lechkhumi and Imereti.

Dimyat = Smederevka

Dimyat

Dimyat is a native grape of Bulgaria - the second most planted white grape after Rkatsiteli. As Smederevka, it can be found in Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia. It is yet another offspring of Gouais Blanc, believe it or not. That Gouais Blanc certainly got around.

From personal experience we can strongly recommend Bononia's Dimyat pictured here. Delicious.

Aladasturi

Aladasturi has become perhaps our favourite red Georgian grape of all. Light and perfumed, it also typically makes low alcohol wines.

Here are some fun facts about this variety;

Written information about its origins does not exist. A very brief description of this type was given by E. Nakashidze and G. Sharashenidze. According to the first author, Aladasturi belongs to the group of low quality wine, and the second author places this type on the list of six best vine types.

Aladasuri, with its botanical characteristics, as well as agro-biological features, is a typical representative of the Kolkhetian vine variety. Confirmation of this can be found in its strong growth and ability to climb high trees, leaf spots and intensity of down thickness, of berry skin and consistency, late ripening of grapes and long vegetation season.

Aladasturi is cultivated in the ecological conditions of Kolkheti and is spread throughout upper Guria and in its adjacent territory of Imereti.

Among Gurian indigenous types of grapes, Aladasturi was widespread in the past, particularly in the Eastern part of Guria on the border with Imereti. Vines were cultivated on the hills and even when uncared for, it was greatly harvested with an above-satisfactory quality of product.

The local population used this type of grape for creating a table wine while also keeping it as grapes for winter consumption. In Gurian peasant families, the grape most used as food during the winter was Aladasturi.

As a result of fungal and phylloxera diseases, Aladasturi became massively exstinguished in comparison with other local types of vine, Aladasturi was well-preserved in Guria and in regions of the Imereti valley.

Nowadays, as in olden times, the local population pays a great deal of attention to the spreading of the Aladasturi vine. In the above-mentioned regions, this type of vine can be found planted on hills and in alleys, the locals still use this grape to make table red wine, and its grapes are still kept as bunches for winter consumption.

According to the vinery survey of 1953, the total territory of Aladasturi planted in Western Georgia was 60.81 hectares. Of this, hills accounted for 45.22 hectares and alleys, 15.59 hectares. See Table 1 for the individual districts.

Neuburske

Neuburske is Neuburger in Czech.

Synonyms for Neuburger include Brubler, Brugler, Feher Neuburger, Feher Neuburgi, Feher Neuburgi Ujvari, Neiburger, Neuburg, Neuburger Alb, Neuburger blanc, Neuburger Weisser, Neuburgi, Neuburgské, Neuburské, Neue Rebe, Neuburger Bijeli, Nojburger, Novogradski, Ujvari, Weisser Neuburger

^{Not as many as for Rara Neagra but quite a decent number. We list them because we adore Neuburger. Why does it get overlooked most of the time? It is a brilliant variety making truly delicious wines.}

^{It is a cross between Roter Veltliner and Silvaner. Delightful parents. No wonder.}

False friend:

Tinta Miuda

Tinta Miuda = Morrastel = Graciano.

beware another false friend: don't confuse Morrastel with Moristel. the latter is hardly found outside the Somontano area of Aragon whereas Morrastel/Graciano/Tinta Miuda is quite widely planted in all sorts of places.

Jack Fernon of 'The Wine Importers'

New friend:

Jack Fernon is an enterprising young Aussie who has set up 'The Wine Importers' for importing wines from Australia.

Jack's imports include the wines of Briar Ridge in the Hunter Valley. Readers (or is that 'reader'?) of this Blog may remember we actually visited Briar Ridge on our trip to the Hunter some years ago when their legendary winemaker Karl Stockhausen (yes - a 'Namensvetter' of the legendary composer Karlheinz Stockhausen) was still in existence.