California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance Wins 2026 V d'Or Award for Climate Action Toolkit

The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance has received the 2026 V d'Or Business Award for Sustainability, an international recognition for its Climate Action Toolkit. The award was presented on February 11, 2026, by Vinexposium, the organizer of Wine Paris and administrator of the V d'Or Business Awards. The honor highlights the alliance’s efforts to address environmental challenges in the global wine and spirits industry.

The Climate Action Toolkit is a structured resource designed to help winegrowers identify climate risks, prioritize climate-smart practices, and track their progress. Developed with input from industry leaders, scientists, and sustainability professionals, the toolkit offers step-by-step guidance for assessing climate risks and implementing effective responses. It builds on the alliance’s stewardship of the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing, which is one of the most widely adopted sustainability frameworks in U.S. agriculture.

The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance was established in 2003 as a nonprofit collaboration between the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. Its mission is to advance sustainable winegrowing practices across California. Executive Director Allison Jordan said the award reflects decades of collaboration within California’s wine community, emphasizing planning, science, and long-term stewardship.

The V d'Or Business Awards recognize leading initiatives in the wine and spirits sector that demonstrate responsibility and innovation. The selection of the Climate Action Toolkit as this year’s winner underscores the importance of credible, practical tools for responding to climate impacts in agriculture.

California’s wine industry has faced increasing challenges from climate change, including droughts, wildfires, and shifting weather patterns. The Climate Action Toolkit aims to equip wine businesses with resources to build resilience against these threats. By providing science-based guidance and a framework for action, the toolkit helps growers move from commitment to implementation.

The alliance plans to expand the reach of its Climate Action Toolkit in coming years. The goal is to provide more winegrowers and vintners with access to resources that support climate resilience. This approach reflects a broader trend in agriculture toward proactive planning and technical rigor in response to environmental changes.

Industry observers note that California’s leadership in sustainability has influenced practices beyond state borders. The recognition from Vinexposium places California at the forefront of global efforts to address climate change in wine production.

The award comes at a time when consumers and regulators are paying closer attention to environmental responsibility in food and beverage industries. The alliance’s work demonstrates how collaboration among growers, scientists, and industry groups can produce scalable solutions for complex challenges.

As climate impacts continue to affect agriculture worldwide, initiatives like the Climate Action Toolkit are likely to play a growing role in shaping how producers adapt. The recognition from the V d'Or Business Awards signals that practical, science-based approaches are gaining traction as models for sustainability in winegrowing and beyond.