|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Livermore Valley has been named the 2026 American Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine in recognition of its independent and family-owned wineries and the quality of wine produced.
Winning a national Wine Star Award is a “significant moment” for the region, as it has been focused on improving its wines while maintaining its welcoming and personal spirit, said Brandi Lombardi, executive director of the Livermore Valley Wine Community.
“We’ve raised the bar for what’s in the glass without changing the experience that brings people here,” Lombardi said. “To have Wine Enthusiast recognize that work is incredibly meaningful for our entire wine community.”
The region has long stood out in Northern California for its grape-growing and winemaking, but its “collaborative spirit” is pushing the region forward, award-winning sommelier Tonya M. Pitts wrote online on Wine Enthusiast, where she works as an at-large writer and wine reviewer.
As one of California’s oldest wine regions, the Livermore Valley is home to about 50 wineries. It also features one of the highest percentages of women winemakers in the country, Pitts said.
It has “deep roots and a clear vision for its future,” Pitts said in a release from the Livermore Valley Wine Community. “Its sustained focus on quality, coupled with the authenticity and hospitality that define the region, has made Livermore Valley a compelling destination for today’s wine consumer.”
Long-standing wineries like Wente Family Vineyards and Concannon Vineyard, known for the region’s signature varietals Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc, have “continued to propel the region forward,” Pitts said online. Smaller operations, she added, are experimenting with lesser-used varieties.
Livermore Valley Wine Club officials said the organization has worked to improve the region’s wine quality through methods like expanding winemaker education, introducing outside vineyard and winemaking expertise and improving wineries’ access to laboratory testing.
Among the collaborative efforts, the club in early 2025 co-founded The Global Artisan Vintners Alliance, a partnership network of wine regions from around the world.
The region has also hosted events including TASTE: The Livermore Valley Wine Experience, Terroir at the Table and Cab Franc-A-Palooza, Pitts wrote. The Livermore Valley will be honored with other award winners at Wine Enthusiast’s 27th Annual Wine Star Awards gala in January, according to the company website.
