READ · COMPARE · EXPLAIN
Hugel: Riesling and Late Harvest from the Same Vineyard
This is a family-run producer based in Riquewihr, Alsace. They make wines such as Riesling Grossi Laüe and Vendanges Tardives, and even from the same grape and vineyard, they create different wines based on their harvest selection.
List the similarities between the two wines, and explain why the difference in residual sugar cannot be explained by late harvesting alone.
Questions for this course
If the same grape variety and vineyard, would the residual sugar necessarily be the same?
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France / Alsace / Riquewihr
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Updated: 2026-10-07
Search for shared vineyards
Both Grossi Laüe 2014 and Vendanges Tardives 1988 are Rieslings from the Schoenenbourg vineyard. The producer, grape variety, and general vineyard area are the same, but these are not comparisons between wines harvested from the exact same parcel under identical conditions.
Read about the vintages of late harvest.
The 1988 Vendange Tardive was harvested on November 9. Documentation notes a strong influence of botrytis and a residual sugar of 19.5 g/L. Do not decide on sweetness from late harvesting alone—read both the grape material and finished wine’s analysis for the year.
Range understood from numbers
The Grossi Laüe from 2014 has a residual sugar of 5.8 g/L, which is different from 19.5 g/L in 1988. However, since the harvest years and selections are different, this discrepancy cannot be attributed simply to late harvesting. Separate the comparison of residual sugar from attributing causes for the difference.
What to align and what to compare.
Raw material
- Conditions to standardize
- Riesling and wide vineyard areas
- Conditions for comparison.
- Choosing the parcels and timing of harvest
- Additional points to confirm
- Are we comparing the same grape source?
year
- Conditions to standardize
- The same producer.
- Conditions for comparison.
- 2014 and 1988
- Additional points to confirm
- Weather and grape sources by year
Components
- Conditions to standardize
- Residual sugar unit: g/L
- Conditions for comparison.
- 5.8 and 19.5
- Additional points to confirm
- Other conditions including acidity and aging
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
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READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Hugel Study Reading: Riesling and Late Harvest from the Same Vineyard
Match comparison tables with cited sources and explain differences in raw materials and vinification process.
Comparison tables are based on the cited sources. Please distinguish between vintage-specific specifications and general descriptions at the time of confirmation.
| Comparison items | Grossi Laüe 2014 | Vendange Tardive 1988 |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | 100% Riesling | 100% Riesling |
| Vineyard | Schoenenbourg | The old plots of Schoenenbourg |
| Residual sugar | 5.8g/L | 19.5g/L |
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Which grape varieties are common to both sources?
Both Grossi Laüe 2014 and Vendanges Tardives 1988 are Rieslings from the Schoenenbourg vineyard. The producer, grape variety, and general vineyard area are the same, but these are not comparisons between wines harvested from the exact same parcel under identical conditions.
What is the recorded harvest date for 1988, according to documentation?
The 1988 Vendange Tardive was harvested on November 9. Documentation notes a strong influence of botrytis and a residual sugar of 19.5 g/L. Do not decide on sweetness from late harvesting alone—read both the grape material and finished wine’s analysis for the year.
What can be deduced from the difference in residual sugar?
The Grossi Laüe from 2014 has a residual sugar of 5.8 g/L, which is different from 19.5 g/L in 1988. However, since the harvest years and selections are different, this discrepancy cannot be attributed simply to late harvesting. Separate the comparison of residual sugar from attributing causes for the difference.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Match comparison tables with cited sources and explain differences in raw materials and vinification process.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Grossi Laüe 2014 | Vendange Tardive 1988 |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | 100% Riesling | 100% Riesling |
| Vineyard | Schoenenbourg | The old plots of Schoenenbourg |
| Residual sugar | 5.8g/L | 19.5g/L |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
List the similarities between the two wines, and explain why the difference in residual sugar cannot be explained by late harvesting alone.
Check after writing
- Did you associate each label with its region and grape variety?
- Did you separate the shared and differing conditions in your comparison?
- Did you clearly indicate the year(s) the material covers or the date checked?
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