International recognition highlights California’s role in advancing climate resilience in wine

The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance has been awarded a 2026 V d’Or Business Award for Sustainability, recognizing its Climate Action Toolkit as one of the most impactful and responsible initiatives addressing environmental challenges in the global wine and spirits industry.

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Allison Jordan (center), executive director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, accepts the 2026 V d’Or Business Award for Best Sustainability Initiative in the Wine category, recognizing the organization’s Climate Action Toolkit.

Presented on the eve of Wine Paris, the V d’Or Business Awards acknowledge leading initiatives in the wine and spirits sector, spanning innovation, sustainability and education. Administered by Vinexposium, the organizer of Wine Paris, the awards spotlight projects that advance meaningful progress for the industry and encourage continued innovation and collaboration.

The Best Sustainability V d’Or award honors an interprofessional organization or initiative addressing environmental challenges relevant to the future of the sector. The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance was recognized for its Climate Action Toolkit, which strengthens long-term climate resilience by providing winegrowers with structured, science-based guidance to identify climate risks, prioritize climate-smart practices and track progress.

Developed in collaboration with an advisory group of industry leaders, scientists and sustainability professionals, the Toolkit anchors the Alliance’s approach to climate planning and action. It delivers step-by-step guidance to help winegrowers and vintners assess climate risks and move decisively from commitment to implementation.

“This award reflects decades of collaboration across California’s wine community, grounded in planning and science and focused on preparedness and enduring stewardship,” said Alliance executive director Allison Jordan. “We appreciate Vinexposium’s recognition of California’s sustained leadership in this work, and its relevance to the challenges facing wine regions today.”

The Climate Action Toolkit builds on the Alliance’s stewardship of the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing, one of the most widely adopted sustainability frameworks in U.S. agriculture. The program emphasizes continuous improvement and equips wine businesses with credible, practical tools to respond to current and future climate impacts.

The 2026 V d’Or nominee field reflected the breadth and depth of sustainability initiatives underway across wine regions worldwide. The Alliance’s selection for the V d’Or underscores the importance of planning, technical rigor and collaboration in preparing agricultural systems for a changing climate, as well as the value of shared tools that enable progress at scale.

Explore California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance’s Climate Action Toolkit at cswaclimatetoolkit.org.

About California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance

The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) is a nonprofit collaboration established in 2003 by the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) to advance sustainable winegrowing in California. CSWA stewards the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing, co-developed by Wine Institute and CAWG, and leads the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing program. Introduced in 2010, the certification provides annual, third-party verification that vineyards and wineries have adopted rigorous sustainable practices and are committed to continuous improvement across environmental and social responsibility areas.

About the V d’Or and Vinexposium

The V d’Or recognize the most impactful and responsible initiatives in the global wine and spirits industry. Led by Vinexposium, organizers of Wine Paris, the awards celebrate committed players who combine economic performance with social impact and environmental responsibility. Open to all professionals in the sector, the V d’Or shine a light on inspiring projects and embody a sustainable, human and forward-thinking vision for the future of wine and spirits.

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“This award reflects decades of collaboration across California’s wine community, grounded in planning and science and focused on preparedness and enduring stewardship.”