The red grape variety (Russian: Саперави Северный) is an interspecific new variety between Severny x Saperavi. Synonyms are Saperavi du Nord, Saperavi Severnii and Saperavi Severnyi. The name literally means "northern Saperavi". It contains genes from Vitis amurensis and Vitis vinifera. The hybrid was crossed in 1947 by Ya. I. Potapenko in Rostov, Russia (then USSR). Plant variety protection was granted in 1965.

In Czechoslovakia, it was used by Vilém Kraus (1924-2013), who passed on the breeding material to the Geisenheim Institute (Rheingau, Germany). The new varieties Serena, Sibera and Skif were created there.
![]()
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena