Livermore Valley has been named Wine Enthusiast's 2026 Wine Star Award American Wine Region of the Year, a national honor for one of California's oldest wine regions, the Livermore Valley Wine Community announced.
Why Livermore won
- Quality push: The region expanded winemaker education, brought in outside vineyard and winemaking expertise and gave wineries access to lab testing, according to the announcement.
- Family wineries: Wine Enthusiast recognized Livermore for its multi-generational wineries and small family operations experimenting with lesser-known grapes, NBC Bay Area reported. The valley has about 50 wineries.
- Signature grapes: In 2025 the region named Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc its signature varietals, after a 2022 UC Davis study found both well suited to its climate and soils.
"This is a significant moment for Livermore Valley," 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."
Wine Enthusiast's Tonya M. Pitts called it "a region that knows where it came from, and is not afraid to move forward." The honors will be celebrated at Wine Enthusiast's 2026 Wine Star Awards.