The category winners – covering Education & Transmission, Innovation and Sustainability, both for wine and spirits – and one Jury’s Special Mention will be announced on Sunday 8 February 2026, on the eve of Wine Paris. The ceremony will take place at Le Trianon, the iconic Parisian theatre and monument in Montmartre, featuring an immersive culinary experience crafted by the most Michelin-starred chef in the world, Yannick Alléno, and served alongside a curated selection of wine and spirits pairings.

“This year’s nominees reflect the key forces driving our industry today — innovation, sustainability and education. Their diversity and the quality of their initiatives show how many players are delivering practical answers addressing the evolution of wine, spirits and no-low drinks. The V d’Or brings these contributions forward, offering a clear sense of the sector’s emerging priorities and encouraging collective progress”, says Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium.

Launched in 2024, the V d’Or was created to recognise excellence in the wine and spirits industry, with the aim of giving visibility to and supporting cellars, entrepreneurs and creators developing new ideas and programmes with tangible impact on the sector. Designed to connect like-minded professionals and support the long-term vitality of terroirs and craftsmanship, the V d’Or contributes to the industry’s ongoing evolution.

This year, for the first time, the V d’Or will be showcased at the heart of Wine Paris, from 9 to 11 February, continuing its momentum of recognition and celebration of best-in-class initiatives across the wine and spirits industry, in front of more than 6,000 exhibitors and 60,000 trade visitors. Open to professionals worldwide, with contributions from around 30 countries and assessed by an independent panel of expert judges, the V d’Or stands as a recognised reference and a barometer of the initiatives shaping the wine and spirits industry.

An international, expert and independent judging panel

As a testament to the global ambition of the V d’Or within the wine and spirits industry, the seven expert members of the judging panel come from every corner of the world. They analyse and select the nominees and winners in an authentic spirit of independence and international exchange, bringing a global perspective that combines a commitment to traditional craftsmanship with a drive to promote innovation and shared interests.

The V d’Or 2026 Judging Panel includes: • Honorary President Michel Chapoutier, Owner of M.Chapoutier (France) • Christophe Juarez, CEO, Terroirs & Vignerons de Champagne (France) • Honore Comfort, VP International Marketing, Wine Institute & California Wines (USA) • Mario Piccini, CEO, Piccini 1882 (Italy) • Nimmi Malhotra, Independent wine and drinks writer, Rosso Bianco (Singapore) • Christian Wylie, Managing Director, Bodega Garzón (Uruguay) • François-Xavier Desplancke, President & CEO, Belvedere Vodka (France)

A celebration of excellence and vision

In line with the V d’Or’s commitment to excellence, the ceremony will take place at Le Trianon, an iconic Parisian venue for culture and live performance. The evening will feature a menu created by the 17-Michelin-starred chef, Yannick Alléno, accompanied by a carefully curated and exclusive wine and spirits pairing. Both the menu and the pairings will remain undisclosed until the ceremony.

“We look forward to bringing together those who have supported the V d’Or, to celebrate the initiatives that are actively shaping the future of our industry,” concludes Rodolphe Lameyse. “The gastronomic experience and the setting chosen for this evening reflect the spirit of the awards, highlighting the value these projects create and the momentum they generate across the wine, spirits and wider drinks sector.”

The V D’Or 2026 nominees

Best education & transmission – wine

• France / Singapore – ASI x Sommelier Association of Singapore Advancing global sommelier education through international collaboration.

• Austria – Austrian Wine Marketing Board Empowering future wine professionals through structured B2B education.

• France – Comité Champagne (E-Learning Champagne) Democratising Champagne knowledge via accessible digital learning.

• India – Sonal Holland Academy x Wine & Spirit Education Trust Raising women’s wine-education standards in India through certified programmes.

• Australia – Wine Australia (Future Leaders) Developing the next generation of Australian wine leaders.

Best education & transmission – spirits

• France – Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac Preserving and transmitting Armagnac heritage through education.

• France – Centre International des Spiritueux Supporting spirits expertise through professional training programmes in Cognac.

• United Kingdom – The Whisky Exchange Sharing spirits knowledge through education and consumer outreach.

Best innovation – wine

• France – Agrafes Vitis 4.0 Reimagining viticulture efficiency through technological innovation.

• France – Baron Philippe de Rothschild Innovating wine formats to meet new consumer expectations.

• Portugal – Odelabev, LDA Developing wine-based sparkling botanical aperitifs.

• France – Pierre Chavin Pioneering alcohol-free wines with quality and precision.

• France – SAS Ice Tropez Introducing new wine-based cocktails for contemporary wine drinkers.

Best innovation – spirits

• Peru – Bodega Santa Maria Magdalena Converting gender equity into competitive advantage and new demand.

• Norway – Contagious x Feddie Ocean Distillery Innovating ocean-aged spirits with environmental awareness by female-led distillery.

• United Kingdom – Diageo x PA Consulting Applying innovation in a Johnnie Walker paper-based bottle to reduce plastic use and carbon footprint.

Best sustainability initiative – wine

• Portugal – BA Glass Reducing wine packaging impact through sustainable glass solutions.

• United States – California Wine Institute (Climate Action Toolkit) Providing practical tools for climate action in viticulture.

• France – Famille Perrin Advancing upcycling practices in Rhône Valley vineyards.

• United Kingdom – Regenerative Viticulture Foundation Promoting living soils and resilient vineyard ecosystems.

• Portugal – The Porto Protocol Encouraging climate dialogue and shared sustainability commitments.

Best sustainability initiative – spirits

• Denmark – Clean Spirits Producing spirits with renewable energy and low environmental impact.

• Canada – Distillerie du Fjord Crafting spirits with local sourcing and low-impact processes.

• United States – Suntory Global Spirits – Star Hill Farm Whisky Integrating biodiversity, water stewardship and regenerative farming.

Jury’s special mention

• France – Calvados Christian Drouin SAS Combining digital creativity, humor and community engagement.

• Bhutan – Bhutan Wine Company Opening new extreme-wine frontiers with sustainability at their core.

• United Kingdom – Sustainability In Drinks Driving industry-wide sustainability through education and advocacy.

• France – Terra Vitis Championing responsible and traceable winegrowing practices.