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Best Wineries in Santa Maria Valley
Best Wineries in Santa Maria Valley
Santa Maria Valley is one of California's coldest and most distinctive wine appellations — a transverse valley channeling Pacific air to produce...
Santa Maria Valley is one of California's coldest and most distinctive wine appellations — a transverse valley channeling Pacific air to produce world-class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.
Featured Wineries
01
Au Bon Climat
Jim Clendenen's Santa Maria Valley landmark has been producing Burgundy-inspired Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Bien Nacido Vineyard since 1982. The wines helped put Santa Maria Valley on the world wine map and remain among California's finest cool-climate expressions.
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Bien Nacido Estate
The Miller family's legendary Bien Nacido Vineyard is one of California's most important wine sites — supplying fruit to dozens of top producers while the estate label showcases the vineyard's extraordinary power through its own wines.
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Foxen Vineyard & Winery
Bill Wathen and Dick Doré's Santa Maria Valley estate produces outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Bien Nacido and other valley sources alongside their Foxen 7200 Rhône and Italian variety program.
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Rancho Sisquoc Winery
The remote Santa Maria Valley ranch estate offers one of the most genuine farm winery experiences in California — a working cattle and horse ranch with vineyards producing estate wines in a setting of extraordinary natural beauty.
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Presqu'ile Winery
The Murphy family's beautifully designed Santa Maria Valley estate produces outstanding Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc from the cool valley floor. The modern tasting room and outdoor spaces make it one of the valley's most enjoyable visits.
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Clendenen Family Vineyards
Jim Clendenen's family estate label produces vineyard-designate wines from Santa Maria Valley sources with the Burgundian philosophy that has made him one of California's most respected Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers.
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Qupé
Bob Lindquist's Santa Maria Valley Rhône specialist has been producing outstanding Syrah, Marsanne, and blends from Bien Nacido and other valley sources since 1982. The wines are California benchmarks for cool-climate Syrah.
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Riverbench Vineyard & Winery
The estate vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley produces Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and sparkling wine that reflect the appellation's distinctive cold-climate character. The tasting room and vineyard setting are both excellent.
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View Santa Barbara Region →Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Santa Maria Valley wines distinctive?
Santa Maria Valley is one of California's coldest wine appellations, with persistent Pacific air flowing directly into the valley from Morro Bay. Grapes ripen extremely slowly, developing complex aromatics while retaining natural acidity. The wines have a tension and structural elegance that's distinctive to the valley.
What is the Bien Nacido Vineyard?
Bien Nacido is a legendary Santa Maria Valley vineyard that has supplied fruit to some of California's greatest winemakers — Au Bon Climat, Qupé, Foxen, and dozens more. The vineyard's exceptional ability to produce Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and other varieties has made it one of the most important wine sites in the state.
Is Santa Maria Valley the same as Santa Barbara wine country?
Santa Maria Valley is the northernmost appellation within Santa Barbara County wine country, approximately 60 miles north of the city of Santa Barbara. It's significantly colder than the Santa Ynez Valley to the south and produces a distinctly different style of wine.
How far is Santa Maria Valley from Los Angeles?
Santa Maria Valley is approximately 160 miles north of Los Angeles — about 2.5 hours by car. The drive up Highway 101 through Santa Barbara is beautiful. Santa Maria is a good overnight base for exploring the valley, though many visitors base in Solvang or Santa Barbara.