To bring back to life an ancestral tradition, the Famille Hugel reveals their family secret that has remained hidden for 20 years. A Vin de Paille made according to Alsace tradition, a rare and precious nectar.
CHRONICLE OF A WINE OF PASSION AND OF PATIENCE
Although vin de paille is well known to lovers of the wines of the Jura, it is more difficult to find a trace of it in Alsace, where it has effectively disappeared. However, two antique bottles dating from 1884, lovingly preserved by generations of the Famille Hugel, bear witness to this ancestral tradition in Alsace related in certain texts such as the diary of Thomas Jefferson during his voyage in 1788. At that time it was produced by the people of Alsace in infinitesimal quantities, only in exceptional years, and preciously kept like the family jewels for unique moments, in particular for the last rites at the end of a life of hard toil. For the Famille Hugel it has a quasi-mystical quality, it is a hidden treasure passed down from generation to generation, a veritable family legend. And so, the Famille Hugel set themselves the incredible challenge of reviving this nectar by using the skills of their elders as laid down in their writings.
IN SEARCH OF PAST TIME
In order to perpetuate this tradition and maintain the family history, Marc Hugel took up the challenge in October 1996 of resurrecting the Hugel Vin de Paille by scrupulously following the instructions written by his elders. A parcel of Riesling from Schoenenbourg was thus set out to dry in the attic, just as in the 19th century. After several months these berries, rendered noble by time and the harsh, dry climate of the Alsace winter, offered up their ultimate drops, no longer juice but Essence. And it was only after twenty long years of fermentation in glass demijohns that this extract finally became wine, fully deserving its name “Patience”.
Marc Hugel says: “These last bottles of Vin de Paille from 1884 are the legacy that our ancestors have left in our care. This wine represents a great deal to us, a link between generations, transmitted with passion by people whom the younger generations have never known, but to whom we owe so much. “Patience” 1996 now takes up the baton, rich in history and with extraordinary ageing potential. It is a gift from Nature which will allow a privileged few to touch, for just a brief instant, something that resembles eternity.”
Only 150 precious 37.5 ml bottles of the Vin de Paille “Patience” by Famille Hugel have been produced, available on request to the Famille Hugel, at Riquewihr.
http://www.hugel.com
About FAMILLE HUGEL
In 1639, the Hugel family settled in the picturesque little town of Riquewihr, in Alsace, and have always 100% retained the character of a family business. It is currently managed by the 12th and 13th generations of the family, in an unbroken line.
Famille Hugel owns an estate of 30 hectares of prime sites in Riquewihr, more than half classified as Grand Cru, the Schoenenbourg for its best Riesling and the Sporen for its best Gewurztraminer. It also buys grapes from a further 100 hectares farmed by partner growers in similar clay/limestone dominated terroirs, which strongly mark the style of Famille Hugel wines. All grapes are and will always be hand-picked. The Hugel estates are exclusively planted with the noble Alsace grape varieties, and the vineyards have an average age of 35 years. The second driest wine region in France, Alsace has a unique climate that enables the grapes to ripen slowly, thanks to a fine “Indian Summer”, giving dry, well balanced wines with great finesse and unequalled intensity. They make a perfect match for most Western and Asian cuisine.Hugel wines, with their widely recognised yellow labels, express the pure character of each grape variety and specific terroir, with no need for added wood or sweetening.Famille Hugel production averages 100,000 cases per year, of which around 90% is exported to more than 100 countries worldwide.
Famille Hugel is an elected member of Primum Familiae Vini, an association of some of Europe’s most prestigious wine families, which promotes the values of tradition and excellence.