Description
Sercial is the name applied of a white grapes grown in Portugal, especially on the island of Madeira, and gives its name to the dryest of the four classic varieties of Madeira fortified wine.
The grape is grown in diminishing quantities at the southern end of the island, following phylloxera devastated the Madeira's vineyards the grape became more common on the mainland, there known as Esgana or Esgana Cão. Its late ripening allows it to retain its characteristic acidity.
The anglicised name Sercial came to be associated with the Madeira style rather than the grape variety, being the lightest, most acid and delicate expression of Madeira that takes the longest to mature. However, EU rules for varietal names on wine labels now require Madeiras labelled Sercial to be made from minimum 85% Sercial.