Vendange Tardive - Hugel's Law

Hugel's Law

Jean "Johnny" Hugel first described a wine as vendange tardive after the long hot summer of 1976. Despite the German influence on Alsace, there was no real tradition of making dessert wines as there was across the border, although exceptional vintages had produced wines of great sweetness and longevity. Hugel set out to change this, but he insisted that the reputation of the product could only be maintained by tight regulation—as a winemaker he knew what tricks could be played in the cellar. Hence he drafted rules for vendange tardive wine that were eventually accepted by the INAO on 1 March 1984, and known unofficially as Hugel's Law in recognition of Johnny's crusade. The minimum sugar levels were increased in 2001. The criteria are :

• A declaration to the INAO in advance of the intention to harvest late, and the vineyards specified
• A physical check of the grapes, and of the quality of the juice
• A minimum must weight equivalent to 15.3% potential alcohol for Gewurztraminer & Pinot Gris, and 14% potential alcohol for Riesling & Muscat.
• For Sélection de Grains Nobles the minimums are 18.2% and 16.4% respectively.
• No chaptalisation nor acidification
• The wine certified by INAO officials
• The wine may not be released without a blind tasting by the INAO, at least 18 months after it is made

Between 1981 and 1989, the number of producers rose from 11 to over 500.