Famille Hugel


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The culture of the vine has been practiced in Alsace for more than 2000 years. We find traces of the first Hugels in Alsace as early as the 15th century, and some two centuries later, Hans Ulrich Hugel settled in Riquewihr in 1639 and took the head of the powerful Corporation des Vignerons. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Hugels were recognized as great winegrowers. In 1902, Frédéric Emile Hugel left the old family property to settle in the center of Riquewihr, where the heart of the business is still today. This true pioneer has devoted his entire life to producing and promoting great wines from famous grape varieties such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. The Hugel wine estate covers more than 25 hectares, almost half of which is in the Grands Crus zone. The microclimate of Alsace is explained by its remoteness from maritime influences and by the protection of the Vosges, which gives it the title of the driest wine region in all of France. This climate favors the slow maturation of the grapes and leaves aromas of unparalleled finesse and intensity. In addition to their domain, the Hugel family gets its supplies, only in the form of grapes, from wine growers representing more than 100 hectares in ten municipalities. Almost all of the cellars are located under admirable buildings dating from the 16th century. In these cellars are oak casks more than a hundred years old, including the famous Sainte-Catherine dated 1715, mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records. And this taste for tradition does not exclude innovation, as evidenced by the control of fermentation temperatures and bottling with robotic stacking. Despite its modest size, the Hugel house enjoys a reputation that has long been around the world. In addition to almost all of the great restaurants in France, Hugels are almost 80% exported to more than 100 countries. The Hugel family was elected by its peers to be part of the Primum familiae vini, an association of twelve family wine houses from the major regions of the wine world. The company's golden rule says everything about its respect for the fruit, since "The wine is already in the grape."