What Everyone Should Know about the Santa Maria Valley AVA

Wine-grape growing first came to the Santa Maria Valley in the 1830’s. However, it was not until 1964 that it became a modern, wine-growing region with the creation of a new vineyard by Uriel Nielsen and Bill De Mattei. It was the first commercial vineyard planted in Santa Barbara County and only post-Prohibition source of grapes in the county.

Granted AVA status on August 5, 1981 and expanded in January, 2011, the Santa Maria Valley AVA now includes more than 25 vineyards with upward of 7,500 acres under vine. The primary wine grapes grown in the Santa Maria Valley AVA are, by far, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Syrah has a significant presence—and reputation for quality—as well. Many other varieties are found in the AVA. Among them, Chenin Blanc, Nebbiolo, Pinot Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc create wines of particular interest and quality.

Where is the Santa Maria Valley AVA?

The Santa Maria Valley AVA is primarily in northern Santa Barbara County. Part of the appellation lies north of the Santa Maria River in San Luis Obispo County though. Westernmost in the AVA is the Solomon Hills Vineyard, roughly 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and without any intervening hills to block cool, maritime air. Furthest east is the Ranch Sisquoc Vineyard, still just 20 miles from the coast.

The Santa Maria Valley is wholly within the massive Central Coast AVA. It’s nearest neighboring AVAs are Arroyo Grande to the north and Santa Ynez Valley to the south. There are also important vineyards directly southwest in Los Alamos Valley, but that area is not an AVA and its wines are designated either Central Coast AVA or Santa Barbara County.

The AVA boundaries extend well into the eastern hills, rising up to about 3,800 feet above sea level. However, actual plantings don’t go nearly that far east or up. Typical vineyard altitudes range from 200 to 900 feet.

Santa Maria Valley AVA Climate

The Santa Maria Valley AVA is a very cool growing area, classified as Region’s I and II on the Winkler-Amerine Heat Summation scale. But, owing to the moderating influence of the Pacific, Spring comes early and harvest can stretch until November 20. The result is a very long growing season, 125 days on average.

Though extremes are certainly possible and daytime highs above 100 degrees are not unheard of, the normal, average high in September—the warmest month of the AVA’s growing season—is less than 75 degrees. Average lows throughout the growing season range from the low 50’s to the high 40’s. Cooling starts very early in the day too, around 1:30pm, so effective, daily warmth is quite low. With those temperatures, but plentiful sun and the long season, Santa Maria Valley wines often achieve a “Holy Trinity”: excellent ripeness, deep color and lively acidity.

As with most of Santa Barbara County, rainfall is very low in the Santa Maria Valley. The AVA averages less than 14” in non-drought years. Vines typically require 20-30” of water per year for dry-farming. Therefore, in all but one vineyard, irrigation is essential.

The soils can be fertile. (For more than a century before grape-growing was the big thing, Santa Maria Valley was an agricultural center. Cattle ranching and row crops were widespread. The area is still a great source of strawberries and other crops.) Most of the vineyards are very well-managed though, and excess vigor is rarely an issue.

Oil derricks also grow in the area. Agriculture and petroleum are the two biggest industries. The town of Santa Maria itself, directly between the AVA and the ocean, is an economic contributor too. With a population of just over 100,000, it’s easily the largest community between the cities of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara and offers good, mainstream shopping, healthcare, etc.

Santa Maria Valley AVA Vineyards

For precise locations of the vineyards below, see the excellent AVA map available from Santa Barbara County Wines. I highly recommend purchasing the hard copy maps.

Bien Nacido – The area’s most celebrated vineyard. Planting began in 1970 and many of those vines, own-rooted, are still in production. Almost 900 acres, roughly 20 miles from the ocean. It’s owned by the Miller family.

Ca’ Del Grevino – Estate vineyard of Ca’ Del Grevino Winery, located adjacent Presqu’ile, fairly far west in the AVA. Planted to several varieties.

Cambria – Now owned by Jackson Family, it was first planted as part of the Tepusquet Vineyard in the early 1970’s. It includes Julia’s, Katherine’s and Tepusquet Vineyard designations.

Clark & Telephone – Notably used by Belle Glos, it features own-rooted Martini clone Pinot Noir from 1972. It’s on the flatland not too far from Highway 101.

Colson Canyon – 16 acres of Syrah and Grenache owned by Tensley Wines

Cottonwood Canyon – The estate vineyard of Cottonwood Canyon Winery was founded in 1988 and includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.

Dierberg Santa Maria – Twelve “heritage clones” of Pinot Noir plus Chardonnay planted in 1997 on the western edge of the AVA. This is an estate vineyard for Dierberg Winery, which also has vineyards in Sta. Rita Hills and Happy Canyon (Star Lane).

Dominion Telegraph

Ernesto Wickenden – A 3-acre Chenin Blanc vineyard, planted in 1966, that lies within Byron’s Nielson Vineyard. These may be the oldest Chenin vines in the United States.

Garey Ranch – A 150-acre Pinot Noir estate originally established in 1998/9 by Robert Mondavi Corporation and Ken Brown.

Haribach

Kenneth Volk – The estate vineyard for Kenneth Volk Winery, it’s a 12-acre parcel with four acres under vine. The vines, planted in 1981, are own-rooted Wente-clone Chardonnay. It was formerly part of the Byron Vineyard.

Le Bon Climat – 100 acres, farmed sustainably and planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Viognier, Gewurztraminer and Aligote on vigor-reducing rootstock. This is the estate vineyard of Au Bon Climat.

Lucas & Lewellen Goodrich Ranch – The ranch is actually 3 vineyards—Goodchild, High 9 and Old Adobe—which straddle Foxen Canyon Road near the interstection Tepusquet Canyon Road. The soils include clay and river gravel. These estate vineyards for Lucas & Lewellen Winery are planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Maldonado/Runway – A 1,000 acre parcel with just 16 acres planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (in 2008). Owned by the Abel Maldonado Jr. family, which has farmed strawberries and vegetables there for three generations, it’s the estate vineyard for their Runway Vineyards label.

MaMere – Less than half-an-acre and planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, the flavor of which is accented by the vineyard’s mammoth eucalyptus tree.

Nielson/Byron Estate – Now the estate vineyard of Byron, the 432-acre vineyard was originally planted in 1964. It lies at 500-800 feet above sea level on a south-facing slope, 18 miles from the ocean. The well-drained soil is home to more than 23 clones of Pinot Noir, plus two clones of Chardonnay. Replanting there began in 1991.

North Canyon – The northernmost vineyard in the AVA, North Canyon is a very long, north-south running area straddling the Cuyama River. Though just 20 miles from the ocean, it’s orientation between two sets of hills means it gets less direct cooling than most vineyards in the AVA. Varieties include several clones of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Merlot.

Presqu’ile – One of the furthest west, this estate vineyard of Prequ’ile Winery is planted primarily to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The very beautiful winery and hospitality center are on site.

Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard – Located centrally in the AVA, it features Pinot Noir planted in 1997. An estate vineyard for Native9 – Alta Maria wines.

Rancho Real (aka Murmur Vineyard) – 436 total acres, 213 under vine, planted in 2008. Located at the southwestern edge of the AVA, adjacent to and directly south of Presqu’ile, it is Region I climatically. Altitudes range from 350 to 1,000 feet with up to 30 degree slopes. Varieties include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Pinot Gris and Roussanne. It’s the estate vineyard of RM Vineyards.

Rancho Sisquoc – 300 acres of vineyard on a 37,000 acre cattle ranch, it is the easternmost vineyard in the AVA and one of the furthest south. However, lying at the end of the low-lying valley formed by the Santa Maria River, it is still exposed to marine cooling. The original planting of 49 acres (Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon) came in the late 1960’s. 141 acres were added in 1971 and even more over a decade starting in the late 1990’s. Additional varieties now include Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sarah, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner and Syrah. It’s the estate vineyard of Rancho Sisquoc Winery.

Rancho Vinedo – This site, across the street from Bien Nacido was planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 1973.

Riverbench – Estate vineyard to Riverbench Winery, it’s 270 acres primarily planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Established in the early 1970’s, but mostly replanted about ten years ago. More sandy-rocky than loamy, unlike most of the AVA.

Sierra Madre – 1,000 acres, not all planted, that includes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Dates back to 1971.

Solomon Hills – Also owned by the Miller family, this is the AVAs coolest and westernmost vineyard.

Tinaquaic – The 36-acre estate vineyard of Foxen Winery, planted to Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. It’s the only dry-farmed vineyard in the AVA. Planted in 1989.

Tres Hermanas – The estate vineyard of Tres Hermanas Winery, it was established 2001. The small vineyard, southernmost in the AVA, is located on Foxen Canyon Road in the southeastern corner.

Tunnel – A small vineyard in the southwestern part of the AVA, about 2 miles south of Dierberg and 2 miles east of Rancho Real/Murmur.

Santa Maria Valley AVA Wineries & Tasting Rooms

Santa Maria Valley is home to plenty of excellent vineyards and wineries. However, due to the quiet, agricultural bent of the area, some of those wineries prefer to have their tasting room in nearby communities which offer more tourist traffic. Below, I’ve listed most of the wineries which have a predominant Santa Maria Valley focus. As applicable, I’ve noted the general location of their tasting rooms.

Au Bon Climat – Santa Barbara

Bien Nacido & Solomon Hills Estates – Los Olivos

Byron – Los Olivos

Ca’ Del Grevino – Orcutt

Cambria – Santa Maria Valley AVA

Costa d’Oro – Santa Maria Valley

Cottonwood Canyon – Santa Maria Valley AVA

Dierberg – Sta. Rita Hills

Foxen – Santa Maria Valley AVA

J. Wilkes – Los Olivos

Kenneth Volk – Santa Maria Valley AVA

Lucas & Lewellen – Solvang