Alsace wine globetrotter Etienne Hugel passes away

ales director of the Famille Hugel wine house – formerly Hugel & Fils – since 1982, Etienne Hugel was responsible for marketing the family’s wines in around 100 different countries, with 85% of the estate’s annual production of 110,000 cases bound for export. “Etienne travelled the world relentlessly, showing unparalleled people skills and infectious enthusiasm”, said André Hugel in a press statement. “Etienne successfully managed to fill the shoes of his uncle Johnny Hugel as the public face of Hugel and was similarly beloved all over the world”, confirmed wine critic Jancis Robinson “with a heavy heart”.

Firmly rooted in the wine village of Riquewihr since 1639, the Hugel family owns 26 hectares of its own vineyards and partners with 240 wine growers over 115 ha for its negociant business. Etienne belonged to the 12th generation of Hugel family wine growers along with Jean-Philippe and Marc.

As the wine magazine Decanter pointed out, the death of Etienne Hugel comes in close succession to those of two other leading figures of the French wine industry, Bordeaux native Paul Pontallier – managing director of Château Margaux – and Burgundy’s Louis Latour, chairman and CEO of the namesake shipping company.

[ Source: Vitisphere. Photo: Famille Hugel ]