The red grape variety originates from the border region Moldova/Romania. There are about 100 synonyms, which testifies to its once wide distribution and great age. Some of them are Batura Neagra, Bătută Niagră, Bătută Nigră, Bătută Nyagră, Cabasma Neagrâ, Chernyi Bityi, Chernyi Krepkyi, Covalioc, Francucha Rouge, Frâncușă Niagră, Frankusha Krasnaya, Frankusha Red, Galbenă Neagră, Kabasiya, Kabasiya Chernay, Kabassia, Kabassia Ciornaia, Kabassia Noir, Kabassiya, Kabasya, Kabassya, Kabaszija, Koval, Manak Noir, Niagră, Poma, Poma Betute Niagra, Poma Betute Nyagra, Poma Virtoase Niagra, Poma Vitoase Nyagra, Poma Vyrtoase Nygra, Znamenskii, Znamenskyi, Znamenskyi Qirmizi Frankusa and Znamensky. The ancestry (parentage) is unknown. Whether there is a relationship to the white, Romanian variety Frâncușă is not known. It is used as a winepress and table grape. In 2016, 3 hectares of vines were recorded in Romania (Kym Anderson).
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
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