Vinexposium reveals V d’Or nominees

By Oliver Catchpole

Published: 05 January, 2026

Wine Paris organiser Vinexposium has revealed its list of nominees for the third edition of the V d’Or.

Launched in 2024, the wine and spirits business awards are open to industry professionals globally and aim to celebrate excellence and leadership in the sector.

Winners will be announced (alongside the Institute of Masters of Wine Annual Lifetime Achievement Award) on 8 February 2026, the day before Wine Paris.

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Four British organisations were nominated, including The Whisky Exchange (for Best Education & Transmission – Spirits), Diageo x PA Consulting (for Best Innovation – Spirits), Regenerative Viticulture Foundation (for Best Sustainability Initiative – Wine) and Sustainability in Drinks (for Jury’s Special Mention).

The full list of V d’Or nominees for 2026 can be found at the end of this article.

Commenting on the nominations, Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, said: “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 highlights these contributions, celebrating the innovators driving meaningful progress across wine, spirits and no low drinks.”

A panel of seven experts will judge the awards, including honorary president Michel Chapoutier (owner of M.Chapoutier), Christophe Juarez (CEO, Terroirs & Vignerons de Champagne), Honore Comfort (VP international marketing, Wine Institute & California Wines), Mario Piccini (CEO, Piccini 1882), Nimmi Malhotra (independent wine and drinks writer, Rosso Bianco), Christian Wylie (MD, Bodega Garzón) and François-Xavier Desplancke (president and CEO at Belvedere Vodka).

In addition to the V d’Or, Vinexposium also organises Wine Paris (of which Harpers is a media partner), which this year is expected to set a record for attendance at a wine and spirit fair, with 60,000 visitors predicted, and 6,000 exhibitors confirmed, as Harpers reported.

The event will take place between 9-11 February 2026.

V d’Or 2026 Nominees:

Best Education & Transmission – Wine

France/Singapore – ASI x Sommelier Association of Singapore

Austria – Austrian Wine Marketing Board

France – Comité Champagne (E-Learning Champagne)

India – Sonal Holland Academy x WSET

Australia – Wine Australia (Future Leaders)

Best Education & Transmission – Spirits

France – Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac

France – Centre International des Spiritueux

United Kingdom – The Whisky Exchange