Jean Hugel
Encyclopedia
Jean "Johnny" Frederic Hugel ( September 28, 1924 - June 9, 2009) was an Alsatian wine producer, described by wine
expert Tom Stevenson
as "the single most important person in the development of Alsace wine industry throughout the 20th century."
, Jean Hugel began studying winemaking
after World War II
, attending the University of Bordeaux
and University of Montpellier
from the later of which he earned a Masters degree in Agronomy
. In 1948 he returned to the family estate in Alsace
, Hugel & Fils
, where he shared in management operations with his brothers André and Georges. In 1997, Hugel scaled back on his activities in the day to day management of the estate as his nephews took on more prominent role. He died of cancer in 2009.
guidelines for the Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru AOC
s. As founder and president of the Alsace Grand Cru commission, Hugel was a major influence in defining the boundaries the Alsace Grand Cru vineyards. Hugel also developed the guidelines for the late harvest dessert wine
s Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles. When these laws were officially recognized in 1984 they were among the strictest AOC requirements in the French wine
industry.
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
expert Tom Stevenson
Tom Stevenson
Tom Stevenson is a British author who has been writing about wine for more than 30 years. Described by his colleagues as one of today’s most prolific wine authors, Stevenson is regarded as the world’s leading authority on Champagne...
as "the single most important person in the development of Alsace wine industry throughout the 20th century."
Biography
Born in the village of RiquewihrRiquewihr
Riquewihr is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.A popular tourist attraction for its historical architecture, Riquewihr is also known for the Riesling and other great wines produced in the village...
, Jean Hugel began studying winemaking
Winemaking
Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, attending the University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France. Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.There are seven...
and University of Montpellier
University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier was a French university in Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon région of the south of France. Its present-day successor universities are the University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier 2 University and Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III.-History:The university...
from the later of which he earned a Masters degree in Agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
. In 1948 he returned to the family estate in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, Hugel & Fils
Hugel & Fils
Hugel & Fils is a winery located in Riquewihr, Alsace, France. Hugel & Fils is one of the major producers of Alsace wine, and has been an important force in the Alsace wine industry in its developments during the second half of the 20th century....
, where he shared in management operations with his brothers André and Georges. In 1997, Hugel scaled back on his activities in the day to day management of the estate as his nephews took on more prominent role. He died of cancer in 2009.
Influence on Alsatian wine industry
Jean Hugel was very active in the drafting of the Appellation d'origine contrôléeAppellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
guidelines for the Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru AOC
Alsace Grand Cru AOC
Alsace Grand Cru is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée for wines made in specific parcels of the Alsace wine region of France. The Grand Cru AOC was recognized in 1975 by the INAO with subsequent expansion in 1983, 1992 and 2007....
s. As founder and president of the Alsace Grand Cru commission, Hugel was a major influence in defining the boundaries the Alsace Grand Cru vineyards. Hugel also developed the guidelines for the late harvest dessert wine
Dessert wine
Dessert wines are sweet wines typically served with dessert.There is no simple definition of a dessert wine. In the UK, a dessert wine is considered to be any sweet wine drunk with a meal, as opposed to the white fortified wines drunk before the meal, and the red fortified wines drunk after it...
s Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles. When these laws were officially recognized in 1984 they were among the strictest AOC requirements in the French wine
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
industry.
Awards and honors
Over his more than 60 years in the Alsatian wine industry, Jean Hugel won numerous awards and honors. These include:- Membership of the Académie du Vin de France
- Winner of the Catherine de Medici Prize for services to OenologyOenologyOenology,[p] œnology , or enology is the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking except vine-growing and grape-harvesting, which is a subfield called viticulture. “Viticulture & oenology” is a common designation for training programmes and research centres that include both the...
- Grand-Maître of the Confrérie Saint-Étienne d'Alsace
- President of the International Wine & Spirit Competition
- Awarded the Mérite AgricoleMérite agricoleThe Ordre National du Mérite Agricole is an order of merit established in France on 7 July 1883 by Minister of Agriculture Jules Méline to reward services to agriculture...
for services to and successful promotion French wines - Awarded the Ordre du Mérite by the French Government for service to the French PeopleFrench peopleThe French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
External links
- Jean Hugel - Daily Telegraph obituary
- Official website Hugel & Fils
- 2005 Interview with Jean Hugel by Master of WineMaster of WineMaster of Wine is a qualification issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine in the United Kingdom...
Nick ClarkeNick ClarkeNicholas Campbell Clarke , was an English radio and television presenter and journalist, primarily known for his work on BBC Radio 4....