[3] Ampelographers believe that Băbească neagră is a very old variety with the earliest mentioning of the grape dating back to the early 14th century.

Significant plantings can also be found around Odobești in Vrancea County and in the sandy vineyard soils along the Danube river which forms Romania's southern border with Serbia and Bulgaria.

[3] Băbească neagră can be found on limited acreages in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where this variety was originally successfully cultivated by Konstantin Frank.

The pink-berried color mutation Băbească gri tends to produce minerally white wines with lime notes that persist on the finish.

[3] Over the years Băbească neagră has been known under a variety of synonyms including: Aldarusa, Asil Kara, Asîl Kara (in the Republic of Dagestan), Băbească, Babeasca, 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), Sereksia Chornaya, Sereksiya (in the United States), Sereksiya Chernaya, Sereksiya Tschiornaya, Serexia, Serexia noir, Serexia Tcheurnaia, Sesser, Stropaty, Stropatyi, Tchernyi Redkii, Tcheurny Redky, Timofeevka, Tsotler, and Tsotlyar.