Santa Maria Valley AVA
| Wine region | |
Santa Maria Valley vineyards | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1981 |
| Years of wine industry | 195 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | California, Central Coast AVA, Santa Barbara County |
| Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, Santa Barbara County | Alisos Canyon AVA, Ballard Canyon AVA, Happy Canyon AVA, Los Olivos District AVA, Santa Ynez Valley AVA, Sta. Rita Hills AVA |
| Climate region | Region I, II |
| Total area | 97,483 acres (152.317 sq mi) 2010 exp: 116,273 acres (181.677 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 7,500 acres (3,000 ha) 2010 exp: 7,755 acres (3,138 ha) |
| Grapes produced | Aligote, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Grenache, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Mondeuse, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Silvaner, Syrah, Tocai Friulano, Viognier, Zinfandel |
Santa Maria Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) which straddles the boundary of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties in California's multi-county Central Coast AVA. It was established on August 5, 1981, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as California's second oldest AVA. A portion of the AVA crosses the Cuyama River into the southernmost corner of San Luis Obispo County. The east-west orientation of the 152.3 square miles (97,483 acres) with a wide, open valley and rolling hills means cool winds and fog flow in freely from the Pacific Ocean, settling most noticeably in lower-lying areas. The result is a mild Mediterranean climate that lengthens the growing season and contributes to the eventual sugar/acid balance in the grapes from Santa Maria Valley's 7,500 acres (3,000 ha) cultivated vineyards. On January 28, 2011, the AVA was granted a 29.4 square miles (18,790 acres) expansion to its southern boundary.