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Underdog Grape · Portugal

Sercial

Pronounced sair-see-AL

Most people think Madeira is sweet. Sercial is its bone-dry opposite — electric, citrusy, and so high in acidity it can age for a century or more. Here's what Sercial Madeira tastes like, how it differs from the sweet styles, and the bottles to start with.

Tasting profile
Full tasting notes live in the deep dive.
Where it grows
Madeira, Portugal
Explore the field guide
The catch
Bone-dry and searingly acidic, which is not what most people expect when they hear Madeira. If you came for the sweet stuff, buy Bual or Malmsey and come back to this one later.
Where to buy
For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.

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The region

Madeira, Portugal

If you like

Port

Wines like Sercial

AssyrtikoJuhfarkArintoErbaluce

Sercial: common questions

What wine is Sercial similar to?
If you usually drink Port, Sercial is the underdog swap to try. Other lesser-known grapes in the same style: Assyrtiko, Juhfark, Arinto.
Read the deep diveSercial Madeira: The Bone-Dry Wine That Never Dies

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