|
The Santa Maria Valley AVA is located in the northernmost part of Santa Barbara County, just east of Santa Maria city and 15 miles inland from the Pacific Coast. A portion of the AVA spills across the Cuyama river (which converges with the Sisquoc to form the Santa Maria after which both the city and the AVA are named), into the southernmost corner of San Luis Obispo County.
The east–west orientation of this very wide, open valley means that cool winds and fog flow in freely from the Pacific Ocean, settling most noticeably in lower-lying areas. This climatic effect is significant in several viticultural areas along California's Pacific coast – the cool maritime influence it brings about lengthening the growing season and contributing to the eventual sugar/acid balance in Santa Maria Valley wines.
Low rainfall, mild temperatures and an extended growing season are not the only features of the Santa Maria Valley terroir – the loamy soils are relatively free-draining, preventing the vines from becoming waterlogged in all but the wettest conditions. The proportion of sand and/or clay in these loams varies from area to area, dependent on the local geology.
The dominant grape variety in Santa Maria Valley vineyards is unquestionably Pinot Noir. As is the case in most New World wine regions which have experimented with Pinot Noir, the fussy variety (widely dubbed 'The Fickle Mistress') typically performs best in Santa Maria's cooler mesoclimates. Leaner, more elegant Pinot Noir can be found at higher elevations at the eastern end of the valley. Pinot Noir's white Burgundian counterpart Chardonnay is also popular throughout the AVA, and is the grape behind roughly one in three Santa Maria Valley white wines.
Warm climate varieties are also represented in the valley here, confidently led by the classic northern Rhone grapes Syrah and Viognier. Although only in very small quantities, Grenache and even Marsanne are also represented.
Such well-known vineyards as Au Bon Climat and Bien Nacido are located here, just a few miles upriver from Santa Maria city. Further up the valley are Byron, Rancho Sisquoc and Foxen (among others) and beyond these the northernmost vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. (The area's Spanish/Catholic influence is obvious throughout the area: Santa Barbara county's three AVAs are Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and the Sta. Rita Hills. The Spanish grape varieties and winemaking influences, however, are conspicuous by their absence.
| 
