Maculan Award 2026: Andrea Petucco wins for best sweet wine and savory dish pairing.

On Monday, March 23 , the final evening of the 2026 Maculan Award , a food and wine competition dedicated to the pairing of sweet wines with savory dishes , took place at the historic Maculan winery in Breganze (Vicenza). First place went to private chef Andrea Petucco , awarded for his dish "Red Mullet and Foie Gras Sandwich," paired with Acininobili Veneto Bianco Passito IGT .

"Now in its fourth year, the Maculan Prize confirms its position as a privileged observatory on the conceptual and gastronomic approach to sweet wine," explains Fausto Maculan , owner of the company with his daughters Angela and Maria Vittoria . "In particular, it's extremely interesting to see how new generations of chefs approach and interpret the challenge of pairing savory dishes with sweet wine. This year, too, the competitors impressed us with their high level of awareness and mastery in their creative proposals and the balances they achieved."

The protagonists of the final challenge were: Andrea Petucco , private chef from Marostica (Vicenza), Gianmarco Di Girolami from Blob Caffè & Ristorante in Ascoli Piceno, Nicola Rizzetto from the Dai Tosi restaurant and hamburger joint in Thiene (Vicenza) and Angelo Gioia , private chef and food and wine consultant.

The four finalist pairing proposals were evaluated by a panel of food and wine experts chaired by chef Federico Pettenuzzo , co-owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant La Favellina in Malo (Vicenza) and a member of JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs, an international association of talented young chefs. The panel included journalists and tasters Alberto Tonello, Angelo Peretti, Clementina Palese, Liliana Savioli, and Nicola Grolla , with journalist and writer Andrea Gori serving as president of the press panel. Evaluations took into account balance of flavor, originality, execution technique, presentation, and the coherence of the pairing with the wine.

During the evening, Andrea Gori presented his latest book , "Manuale di conversazione sui grandi vini dolci. Prima del dessert: nuove regole per la tavola moderna ," a work that explores the role of sweet wines in contemporary cuisine, highlighting their versatility in pairings and the possibility of using them throughout the meal. The author's reflection fits coherently with the cultural project promoted by Maculan, aimed at stimulating broader reflection on the potential of these wines.

The jury awarded Andrea Petucco for his dish "Red mullet and foie gras sandwich, Vespaiolo Maculan beurre blanc, celeriac, and fermented pear," paired with Acininobili Veneto Bianco Passito IGT made from Vespaiola grapes affected by noble rot. The dish was distinguished by a fine interplay of contrasts, between richness and acidity, sweet and delicately bitter undertones, a complexity enhanced and harmonious with the rich, complex profile of the prized Maculan passito.

Andrea Petucco was awarded a prize consisting of a selection of wines from the Breganze company and a unique work in borosilicate glass created by Massimo Lunardon , an internationally renowned artist and designer: a wasp-shaped decanter, a clear tribute to the native Vespaiola variety.