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WINES
 

Alsace, with its 8 grape varieties and a wide style of wines produce one of the widest range of any wine region of the world. The two basic ranges are produced mostly from grapes purchased from small growers in and around Riquewihr while the higher qualities come from the 65 acres of the "Hugel" estate.

Hugel Quality
Generic "Hugel" wines are made exclusively from grapes purchased from winegrowers under long-term contract, in a dozen of the most favoured localities around Riquewihr. With true Alsace character, these "Hugel" wines faithfully mirror the characteristics of each varietal and each individual vintage.

Hugel Tradition
Produced from an even stricter selection of grapes, both by origin and by level of maturity, partly from the Hugel estate, "Hugel" Tradition wines display increased depth and personality.
Made only from the four "noble" grape varieties, these wines have enhanced potential for ageing in bottle.

Hugel Jubilee
These wines come exclusively from the finest vineyards in the "Hugel" estates, and are made in only the very best vintages.
Harvested at perfect maturity, in the oldest vineyards of the estate, the wines are powerful, although still dry, and require an extensive period of ageing in bottle in order to reach their full potential.
They are the perfect Alsace wines to accompany the finest gastronomy.

Hommage à Jean Hugel
1997 was the 50th consecutive vintage Jean Hugel had presided over. In that vintage, it was possible to harvest a significant quantity of over-ripe grapes. This brand new cuvée called "Hommage à Jean Hugel" is a tribute by the current generation to Jean Hugel, the "father" of late harvest wines in Alsace, who has contributed so much to the "renaissance" of the wines of Alsace.

This new, intermediate quality level between  JUBILEE and VENDANGE TARDIVE ranges will only be produced in truly outstanding vintages from the finest grape varieties: Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris.

Hugel Vendange Tardive
The great speciality of the Hugel family for many generations, these wines are produced from grapes which have over-ripened on the vine, and are picked much later than the normal harvest. The wines are fermented naturally to reach their optimal balance between alcohol and residual sugar, resulting in very full-bodied, powerful, yet not very sweet wine. The action of "noble rot" (botrytis) gives these wines almost unlimited ageing potential and they are frequently described as some of the finest white wines in France.

Hugel Sélection de Grains Nobles
To produce such rare wines, certain factors have to coincide: an exceptional vineyard, old vines, perfect maturity at the start of harvest, early-morning mist followed by maximum sunshine, to encourage the development of "noble rot" (botrytis cinerea). The shrivelled grapes are then carefully harvested, one by one, then vinified with utmost care. The resulting nectar has unbelievable finesse and complexity, and its lifespan is practically unlimited. These wines are only produced in the finest vintages in tiny amounts.