Famille Hugel

To understand the great wines of Alsace is first and foremost to understand how, between the Triassic and Jurassic periods, between the Vosges and the Rhine, the beautiful mosaic of terroirs on which Riesling, Gewurztraminer and the other grape varieties that have made this vineyard famous were patiently fashioned.

You have to take your time. ... Take the time to listen, to observe, before tasting. Take the time that this family, which has been producing wine in Riquewihr for 13 generations, knows how to do.

The Hugels have 29 hectares of vines, including two renowned grands crus, Sporen and Schœnenbourg, which have been cultivated without the use of synthetic products for over twenty years (the majority of the winery is run organically). They also supply grapes selected and grown by partners under contract, enabling them to market their wines in nearly a hundred countries, including one of their flagship wines, 'Gentil'.

A fine success story, you might say in English; except that the Hugels make a point of speaking French, and did so even when the region was swaying between the language of Molière and that of Goethe.

As you can see, wine is a family affair here. 13 generations have succeeded one another, and never far from the cellars, located in buildings dating back to the 16th century in the heart of the medieval town of Riquewihr and containing large oak barrels over a century old.

Notoriously, it was behind the introduction of late harvests in Alsace, the 'Vendanges Tardives' and 'Sélection de Grains Nobles'. When produced in good years, these nectars are a real thrill.

This is Hugel's strength: to be able to produce a white as popular and unifying as Gentil by hand, and to go for the 'pixelation' of a Grand Cru by producing great Rieslings that stand the test of time. see more