Gambero Rosso's 2009 favourites

Gambero Rosso, publisher of the powerful annual Italian wine guide Vini d'Italia with its coveted tre bicchiere awards, has just announced the top award-winners in its 2009 guide. They appear below.

Mind you, Gambero Rosso itself has been in a state of some turmoil recently with considerable personnel changes, so it must have been quite a job to carry on business as usual with a reduced team at the helm.

Red wine of the year: Barbaresco Rabajà Riserva 2004 – Bruno Giacosa
White wine of the year: Chardonnay Cuvée Frissonnière Les Crêtes Cuvée Bois 2006 – Les Crêtes
Sparkling wine of the year: Brut Hausmannhof Riserva 1997 – Haderburg Sweet wine of the year: Moscato Passito di Saracena 2007 – Luigi Viola
Best buy: Colli Orientali del Friuli Friulano 2007 – Giordano Sirch
Oenologist of the year: Celestino Lucin – Abbazia di Novacella
Viticulturist of the year: Marinella Camerani – Corte Sant’Alda in Valpolicella
Winery of the year: Fattoria di Felsina – Giuseppe Mazzocolin
Up and coming winery of the year:  Rocca del Principe (Avellino)
Award for sustainable viticulture: Salvatore Foti, oenologist for Benanti, Zenner and Gulfi, all in Sicily