History
The brandy and Hugo Asbach.
In 1892 Hugo Asbach founded the "Export Company for German Cognac" in Rüdesheim am Rhein. Today as "Asbach-Uralt GmbH" a brand known worldwide. Hugo Asbach learned the craft of the distiller. He even lived in France for a while to learn how to make cognac.
He wanted to make German cognac that was in no way inferior to the French model. The word brandy in use today was created as an addition to the much more well-known term cognac to identify it as a German brand. He originally called his product “Brandy Cognac”.
After the First World War, the “Versailles Treaty” forbade German manufacturers to use the name cognac. In this way, brandy became known to everyone in Germany.
Hugo Asbach started in 1892 with only two stills in Rüdesheim am Rhein, directly opposite the train station. Over time, the company grew steadily.
In the end it culminated in a 4.4 hectare site (excluding the praline production). Everything related to the Asbach-Uralt theme was produced at this location until the mid-1990s.
In its heyday, the company employed over 400 people. After the company was sold to the Unterberg Group, the site was largely empty for a long time. Only the praline production went to the Reber company in 2000 under the name "Rüdesheimer Confiserie Pralinen GmbH & Co. KG".
Only when the Wendel family took over the part of the company headquarters known as Asbachgasse in 2015 did the old factory premises come back to life.
There are already big plans for the future: A colorful and lively area is currently being built for events, gastronomy, art, culture and shopping for the citizens of Rüdesheim, the entire region and all interested tourists. The goal for the Asbach location is to become part of the city and its residents again.