Awards to be Presented at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 17 at the California Mid-State Fair
July 10, 2026 (Paso Robles, CA) — The San Luis Obispo County wine industry comes together annually to honor members of the local wine community. These awards recognize dedication, stewardship, innovation, and leadership demonstrated in the County. The 2026 San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Awards go to – Wine Grape Grower of the Year, Octavio García Martínez; Winemaker of the Year, Janell Dusi; and Wine Industry Person of the Year, Andrew Jones.
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, in partnership with the SLO Coast Wine Collective, the Independent Grape Growers of the Paso Robles Area, The Vineyard Team, and past award recipients worked together to nominate and vote for the 2026 winners. The honorees are evaluated on their leadership and accomplishments in California’s third largest wine region, San Luis Obispo County.
“The Mid-State Fair is always a special opportunity to celebrate the people who make San Luis Obispo County’s wine community exceptional,” said Joel Peterson, CEO of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. “This year’s honorees have each made a lasting impact in their own way, whether through winemaking, vineyard stewardship, or industry leadership. We’re proud to recognize their contributions and celebrate the work they’ve done to help our region thrive.”
From land preparation and vineyard establishment to ongoing vineyard management, Octavio García Martínez has spent nearly 30 years in Paso Robles producing premium wine grapes for some of California’s finest wineries. Janell Dusi is one of Paso Robles’ most recognized winemakers, simultaneously preserving her family’s century-long legacy while elevating the region’s reputation and visibility. Through his leadership at Sunridge Nurseries, the founding of Field Recordings, and his pioneering role in developing Tin City, Andrew Jones has helped shape the growth and evolution of the Paso Robles wine industry.
The San Luis Obispo County Wine Community will celebrate this year’s award winners at an awards ceremony on Friday, July 17 at the California Mid-State Fair within Mission Square beginning at 4 p.m. The awards presentation is a free event with paid admission to the California Mid-State Fair. Following the awards presentation is a ticketed event featuring a walk-around tasting of the gold medal winners of the Central Coast Wine Competition (CCWC) from 5-7 p.m. Also recognized will be the CCWC Winery of the Year award, Diablo Paso Wines.
2026 Award Winners
- Wine Industry Person of the Year – Andrew Jones, Sunridge Nurseries and Field Recordings.
- Wine Grape Grower of the Year – Octavio García Martínez, Martínez Farming
- Winemaker of the Year — Janell Dusi, J Dusi Wines
ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE FOUNDATION
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is the official trade and marketing organization that represents wineries, growers, and businesses in the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and 250 wineries. For more, visit pasowine.com or download the free Paso Wine app.
