Livermore Valley Named American Wine Region Of The Year

LIVERMORE, CA — Wine Enthusiast named the Livermore Valley its 2026 Wine Star Award American Wine Region of the Year, citing its famous selections, multi-generational wineries, wine events, and high percentage of women winemakers.

Livermore Valley was selected from a list of nominees by the Wine Enthusiast team, including sales, events, marketing, and editorial, according to the magazine. The executive media chose from a culled-down list, and selected based on factors like impact on consumers, commercial successes, brand and vision, and trendsetting.

“Livermore Valley is a region with deep roots and a clear vision for its future,” said Tonya M. Pitts, Writer-at-Large and Wine Reviewer at Wine Enthusiast and award-winning sommelier. “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. It is a region that knows where it came from, and is not afraid to move forward.”

“This is a significant moment for Livermore Valley,” said Brandi Lombardi, Executive Director of the Livermore Valley Wine Community. “Our region has been deeply focused on raising the quality of our wines while staying true to who we are as a community. We’ve brought more expertise, education and collaboration to the winemaking process, but we’ve never lost what makes Livermore Valley special.”

Wine Enthusiast named the Sicily region as its International (Non-U.S.) Wine Region of the Year. Gretchen Roddick, the executive vice president of Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles and board chair of the Wine Institute, was named Person of the Year. See here for the full list of winners and nominees.

The winners will be celebrated at Wine Enthusiast’s 2026 Wine Star Awards in January at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.