João Tavares- Torre de Tavares Cerceal Bical 2021

The vineyards are not certified organic, but we are farmed under organic and sustainable practices, such as use of copper and sulfur. Flowers and herbs such as chamomile act as fungus repellent. The winery is covered in photovoltaic cells; making us a net exporter of electricity and our wines carbon neutral.

Soil Type(s): Beyond the old granitic soils, this vineyard has also plots with even older origin due to marine sediments, from 500 million years ago, which originated shale clayey rocks soils.

Vineyard sorting and manual triage in sorting table then bunches pass through the de-stemmer. No time is spent in contact with skins. The fermentation is done with wild native yeasts in a stainless steel tank. Fermentation lasts 8-10 days, without temperature control, until it is completely dry. The wine sits on for primary lees for 8-9 months without stirring in chestnut casks. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurs in cask and the wine is aged for another 9 months in bottle.

Cerceal and Bical are not exactly Cabernet and Merlot, but they do work perfectly together in tandem. Cerceal brings acid while Bical gives fruit and balance. These two grapes have been grown side by side for centuries, who are we to argue!

Grilled trout, grilled scallops, scampi pasta, grilled sardines, Italian seafood pastas, fish tacos, Clams in white wine sauce, White asparagus, Cauliflower steaks, Risotto, Chicken Pot Pie, Hazelnuts

• Coastal Mexican, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Vegetarian