Hugel

History of the Hugel Family

The history of the Hugel Family begins in 1639, when Hans Ulrich Hugel settled in Riquewihr after leaving Switzerland during the Thirty Years' War. As early as 1575, it had been forbidden in the town, under penalty of a fine, to plant anything other than noble grape varieties, which had made this terroir one of the most renowned in the Holy Roman Empire. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the family built a solid reputation as exacting winemakers. After the ordeals of phylloxera and the First World War, the Hugels played a decisive role in the revival and promotion of the great Alsatian wines made from noble grape varieties.

The house has also distinguished itself through its pioneering role: the Hugel Family is behind the establishment of Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles in Alsace, having helped to define the production conditions through one of the strictest laws in the French-speaking AOC zone. At the time of the creation of the Alsatian grand crus in 1975, Jean Hugel had opposed a delimitation deemed too permissive, and for a long time the family preferred to market its finest wines under the name Jubilee. A member of the Hénokiens and Primum Familiae Vini, the house today perpetuates, with its twelfth and thirteenth generations, a tradition more than 380 years old.

Terroirs and Vineyards of the Hugel Family

The Hugel Family estate extends over some thirty hectares situated on the finest terroirs of Riquewihr, largely classified as Grand Cru, supplemented by supplies of grapes selected and cultivated by partners under long-term contracts. The two jewels of the estate are the Grands Crus Schoenenbourg, renowned for its Rieslings, and Sporen, the historic home of the house's Gewurztraminers, to which the Clos du Pflostig for Pinot Noir is added.

At Hugel, each of the approximately 220 parcels of the estate bears a name, often inspired by a topographical or historical feature. The most emblematic is the Schoelhammer, a parcel of 63 ares at the heart of the Schoenenbourg, in the family for more than one hundred and fifty years. The vineyard, whose average age is around 35 years, has been managed without synthetic products for more than twenty years, with the majority of the estate being farmed organically, in the greatest respect for the soil and the vine.

Winemaking at the Hugel Family

Winemaking at Hugel is resolutely parcel-by-parcel and aims at the pure expression of the grape variety and terroir, with no oak or sweet artifice whatsoever. The ageing of the white wines is divided equally between old oak foudres, stainless steel vats and concrete vats, while the small production of reds is aged in barriques. The historic cellars, housed beneath 16th-century buildings, shelter large centenarian casks, the oldest of which, dated 1715, is recognised by the Guinness World Records as the oldest barrel still in use in the world.

Thanks to Alsace's dry climate — the second driest region in France — the grapes ripen slowly and yield dry, intensely aromatic wines of great finesse. In the finest years, the house vinifies around a dozen cuvées per grape variety, of which only the most harmonious are blended during the following winter to produce the prestige wines, the fruit of patient tasting and observation.

The Cuvées of the Hugel Family

Gentil: a true flagship of the house, the Gentil is a blend of noble Alsatian grape varieties, in the great regional tradition. Fresh, aromatic and easy to drink, it is a convivial and accessible wine that encapsulates the Hugel spirit in a single bottle.

Riesling Classic: a dry and distinguished riesling, straight and mineral, with notes of citrus and white flowers. A cornerstone of the range, it showcases the purity of Alsace's king grape variety and pairs ideally with fish and seafood.

Pinot Gris Classic: opulent and full-bodied, this pinot gris displays generous substance and notes of ripe fruit, while retaining freshness and balance. Perfect with white meats and dishes in sauce.

Gewurztraminer Classic: aromatic and expressive, it reveals the exotic, floral and spicy notes characteristic of the grape variety, in a dry and harmonious style true to the house's expertise.

Pinot Blanc Cuvée Les Amours: tender, supple and indulgent, this pinot blanc wins you over with its roundness and freshness. A versatile, pleasurable white, ideal as an aperitif or at the table.

Muscat Classic: dry and crisp, the muscat exudes a vibrant fresh-grape fruitiness. A delicate and original cuvée, to be enjoyed young and chilled.

Pinot Noir Classic: the only red in the standard range, this pinot noir offers delicate fruit, lovely suppleness and a finesse that is typically Alsatian.

Estate: the first level of expression of the great terroirs of Riquewihr, this range is drawn exclusively from the estate's own harvest, produced as Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. A parcel-by-parcel selection at the heart of the house's most prestigious crus, combining precision and class.

Grossi Laüe: meaning great terroirs in Alsatian dialect, this prestigious range has succeeded the Jubilee since the 2010 vintage and brings together the finest parcels of the estate, on the Clos du Pflostig and the Grands Crus Sporen and Schoenenbourg. Produced as Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, it represents the most gastronomic and accomplished expression of the family's expertise.

Schoelhammer: the pinnacle of the house, this single-parcel riesling comes from the 63 ares of the lieu-dit Schoelhammer, at the heart of the Grand Cru Schoenenbourg. An exceptional wine produced only in the greatest vintages, it combines remarkable power, minerality and longevity.

Vendanges Tardives: heirs to the pioneering spirit of the family, these cuvées of overripe grapes yield rich and concentrated sweet wines, with notes of candied fruit and honey, to be savoured with foie gras, cheeses or desserts.

Sélection de Grains Nobles: the pinnacle of Hugel's sweet wines, made from grapes affected by noble rot in the greatest years. Of exceptional aromatic intensity, these rare nectars combine opulence, freshness and a near-infinite ageing potential, for unforgettable emotions.