09/02/2010

Hugel website update, moving full into a 2.0 harvest

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If all goes to plan, on 25 September next the Hugel web site will present its new face to the world, it was just decided at a working meeting in the offices of Vinternet. This specialist Wine Web Agency has accompanied us ever since our first steps on the web, way back in... 1996. Their expertise also helps us stay closely tuned to the trends of this constantly evolving universe.

Philippe Hugon with his young and competent team will make our site even more interactive, the Web 2.0 which everyone talks about, adapted not only to social networking but also to new tools like
Ipads and smartphones.

Live coverage of the 2010 harvest will be the first highlight on our new web site, so now all we need is for the weather to cooperate over the next few weeks...

08/27/2010

Gentil 2008 Wine of the Week on Businessweek

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Gentil 2008 ($17), this week's Wine of the Week, is pure, fruit-filled enchantment. It's a quaffable combination of bright, sparkly fruit, ripe melons and peaches, crisp citrus flavors, floral notes, and even a touch of slatey minerality. It's a real crowd pleaser and the perfect wine for a summer soirée--it will, after all, bring people together and make them happy.

Read the full story and fun interview by Nick Passmore on BusinessWeek.com

Also listen to the Podcast on Nickonwine


08/26/2010

370 years old and Web 2.0



Stay tuned, right on this blog during our harvest, further news as we get nearer the date... probably last days of September

08/21/2010

Hugel Vintage Chart from 2009 to 1959

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Here is the update with all latest vintages.

You can download the full vintage chart in PDF format with all vintages from 1959 to 2009. 

07/21/2010

Alsace Man in Athens... Georgia... US

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On the last day of a 10 days US tour...

How better can life be than with such a mark of dedication and love for our wines: Svetlana Rustova of Five Points Bottle shop promoting two of our wines in her store and painting the Ralph Steadman visual on the outside wall.

A BIG KISS to you Svetlana !

Some great feedback from Riesling Rendezvous

No more borders through the web, as seen on this nice review published on Indian Wine Academy after the Seattle Riesling Rendezvous

Also nice video interview published on Youtube by Andy Perdue, editor of Wine Press Northwest


07/19/2010

Alsace Man with corkscrew in the DC area

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Following a few days in Seattle as a guest speaker at the Riesling Rendezvous and a day stop in Chicago, the focus of this latest US visit was the Washington DC area with Frederick Wildman's area manager Nancy Priest.

Few US retailers have maintained their loyalty to our wines like longtime friends Ed and Michael Sands (picture above) owners of the celebrated Calvert Woodley with consultant Ben Giliberti and buyer Tom Mc New together with Nancy Priest at the occasion of a Hugel instore tasting.

The following day after some successful market visits, a costume 30th birthday party of Maryland distributor representative Kristin Otto, was the perfect occasion for Etienne to be dressed-up as "Alsace Man with Corkscrew".









06/21/2010

Alsace in the Top 10 destinations in 2010 for Lonely Planet


best-in-travel-2010.jpg Alsace has been singled out as one of the hot regions in the world to visit this year by the Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2010.

The annual Best in Travel guide aims to give "a collection of the world's best journeys, destinations and experiences for the year ahead" to "take travellers out of the ordinary". One of the highlights of the guide is the Top 10 regions which brings Alsace to the forefront.

Top 10 of regions to visit in 2010
1. Alsace (France)
2. Bali (Indonesia)
3. Fernando de Noronha (Brazil)
4. Goa (India)
5. Corridor of Koh Kong (Cambodia)
6. Lake Baikal (Russia)
7. Oaxaca (Mexico)
8. South Africa
9. The Lake District (England)
10. South East of Western Australia

06/16/2010

Keep walking, driving and shooting... straight ?!?

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The legendary Enzo Ferrari used to say "my cars don't smoke" but since his death the cowboy's favourite cigarettes have become a main sponsor of the F1 team bearing his name.

A couple of recent visits in airport duty free shops have reminded me that our way promoting the moderate consumption of our wines possibly in the course of a meal is quite far from the ethical concerns of the beer and spirit industries.

The above picture was taken in Taipei airport and when asked if the driving skill of Lewis Hamilton had anything to do with the consumption of his spirited sponsor I was told by the brand promoter "No, no, it is just an endorsement !"

I just could not refarain asking a passenger passing by to take this picture.

Just a few weeks later, in Copenhagen airport duty free this time, at the occasion of the FIFA soccer World cup. Would this supporters' beverage have a better influence than thousands of Vuvuzelas ? Obviously not, a few days later Heineken 2 - Carlsberg 0 not to mention the Corona 2 - Kronenbourg 0 that followed ;-)



06/15/2010

A new showcase for our wines in Denmark

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We have at last started the healing of our Scandinavian Achilles' heel !

For many decades now we had been somewhat frustrated not to see our wines enjoy in Denmark the same success they enjoy all over Scandinavia and also lately in the Baltic States.

The recent appointment of longtime established specialist Kjaer & Sommerfeldt (Danmarks ældste vinhandel) gives us confidence that things will rapidly be corrected in the largest per capita market for Alsace wines abroad.

A recent visit to sunny Copenhagen
and in Aalborg gives us some very good reasons to have confidence in the future. How could one not be touched by the attentions to details shown by all the KJAER & SOMMERFELDT team which really demonstrates how much they care about us: from the gorgeous showcase to our wines outside their store (picture above), all the way down to the colour of the orchids that graced our tasting table.

Nothing happens by accident in our business, especially success but it seems the focus is clearly to put all conditions together for success to happen.

Looking for some Hugel wines to grace your table in Denmark ? Look no further, the full range is now offered as you enter their Copenhagen store, on Gammel Mont 4.
If the marriage with the best choucroute in town is in your mind, just go to next door Restaurant Alsace and say hello to Josephine and Franck...

A tradition going back to 1875 joins forces with ours. The KJAER & SOMMERFELDT mailbox may look old but the enthusiasm and professionnalism of their dynamic team is second to none. One proof is their initiative to marry music and wine, as shown on this Youtube clip. TAK !
 

 


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