The wine world bids farewell to a great Alsace winemaker: André Hugel has died at the age of 92.
The Hugel family announced the death of André Hugel from Covid complications on 15 August. André Hugel was the 11th generation to manage the winery, which was founded in the wine-growing region of Riquewihr (Haut-Rhin) in eastern France in 1639. Today, the Hugel winery is run by Marc, Marc-André and Jean-Frédéric Hugel, the 12th and 13th generations.
"André Hugel passed away as a result of a Covid complication. He leaves us with the memory of an incredibly full life, a tireless devotion to family history and a boundless tenderness towards his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Spending a few leisurely hours with André Hugel in the picturesque streets of Riquewihr and pushing open the doors of our centuries-old cellars was like a voyage of discovery to the exceptional terroirs of Alsace and the history of our wonderful region," the family said in a statement.
Educated in Beaune and Geisenheim, Hugel joined the family business early, managing it with his two brothers. An ardent Alsace wine advocate, he contributed to the dynamism of Famille Hugel until his last day – especially through two emblematic cuvées with a strong Alsatian character: Grossi Laüe, which means "finest vineyards" in Alsatian dialect, and Schoelhammer. Today, they are the winery's most important wines, alongside the iconic Vendange Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles.
In addition to working as a winemaker, André Hugel was also president of the Riquewihr Archaeological Society since 1978 and the Museum of Alsace Wines and Vineyards since 1979. In 1985, he was Grand Master of the Confrérie Saint-Etienne, deputy mayor of Riquewihr from 1989 to 1995 and town councillor from 1995 to 2001.
