Giacomo Tachis, the man behind the renowned Super Tuscans Sassicaia, Tignanello and Solaia, has been named Decanter wine magazine's Man of the Year at a celebratory dinner in Florence.

Generally considered the founding father of modern Italian wine, Mr Tachis has spent some five decades in winemaking, and is celebrated in particular for introducing Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals in the original Super Tuscans, decanter.com reports.

In a tribute speech to Mr Tachis, Decanter publishing director Sarah Kemp said: "You have been responsible for raising the quality of wine across the length and breadth of Italy, from Trentino to Sardinia and everywhere in between."

Tuscan wine producer Piero Antinori, with whom Mr Giacomo worked, credited him with "kickstarting an extraordinary period for Italian wine".

Previous Decanter Men of the Year include Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, California wine innovator Robert Mondavi and Financial Times columnist Jancis Robinson.