Livermore Valley has been named American Wine Region of the Year in Wine Enthusiast's 2026 Wine Star Awards, the Livermore Valley Wine Community announced Thursday.
The award goes to the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area, home to about 50 wineries ranging from long-established producers to small boutique operations, according to the trade group's announcement. The region's wine history goes back about 180 years, the group said.
Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large and wine reviewer Tonya M. Pitts said in the announcement that the region's "sustained focus on quality, coupled with the authenticity and hospitality that define the region" has made it a compelling destination for today's wine buyers. "It is a region that knows where it came from, and is not afraid to move forward," she said.
What the growers point to
The Livermore Valley Wine Community, a trade association for the area's wineries and growers, credits the recognition to a coordinated push on quality. According to the group, that work has included more winemaker education, bringing in outside vineyard and winemaking expertise, closer ties with local viticulture education programs and access to laboratory testing for member wineries.
The group says the effort has produced more competition medals and industry awards in recent years.
