Cerceal

Also known as: Cercial, Sercial (Madeira)

Cerceal belongs to those Portuguese grape varieties that one understands not through fruit, but through structure. High acidity, even at full ripeness – a characteristic that is worth its weight in gold in hot vintages. The wines remain restrained, mineral, with hints of grapefruit and lime, but without superficial aromatics.

In the Douro, Dão and Bairrada, Cerceal is traditionally used as a blending partner to provide tension and longevity. At Quinta da Lomba by Niepoort, one can see what the variety is capable of when given space.