Santa Maria Valley AVA

'''Santa Maria Valley''' is an [[American Viticultural Area]] located in Northern [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara County]] and [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo County]], [[California]] [[USA]]. == History == This [[appellation]] is the oldest in this portion of California.. Grape growing in this region dates back to the Mexican Colonial period of the 1830s . In the late 1960's commercial vineyards were planted to supply wineries around the state. Since then, vineyards in the valley have come to encompass {{convert|7500|acre|ha|-3}}. == Geography == The Santa Maria Valley is a natural funnel-shaped valley opening west to the [[Pacific Ocean]]. The elevation of the area ranges from approximately {{convert|200|ft|m|-1}} at the intersection of Highway 101 and Santa Maria River to approximately {{convert|3200|ft|m|-1}} at [[Tepusquet Peak]]. The grapes that are grown within the area are on the valley floor at an approximate elevation of {{convert|300|ft|m|-1}} and on the slopes and rolling hillsides up to an elevation of {{convert|800|ft|m|-1}}. The soils within the area range in texture from a sandy loam to clay loam and are free from adverse salts.. == Climate == Since the valley opens to the ocean, there is no opposition to the sea fog that moves in overnight, engulfing lower lying vineyards, and often lingering into mid-day. This creates a cool growing environment that is a Region I on the [[Climate regions of California|Winkler Scale]]. The valley features a long growing season and very little rainfall, meaning grapes have extensive time to build flavor on the vine. {| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"| | colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;"|Monthly normal and record high and low temperatures |- ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color: #000000" height="17" | Month ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jan ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Feb ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Mar ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Apr ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | May ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jun ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jul ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Aug ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Sep ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Oct ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Nov ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Dec |- ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec high °F | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 86 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 89 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 95 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 103 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 100 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 102 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 104 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 103 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 103 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 108 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 93 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 90 |- ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm high °F | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 63.9 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 64.8 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 64.8 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 67.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 68.6 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 71.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 73.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 74.2 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 74.9 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 74 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 69.2 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 64.9 |- ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm low °F | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 39.3 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 41.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 42.7 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 43.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 46.9 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 50.4 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 53.5 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 54.2 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 52.9 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 48.2 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 41.8 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 38.2 |- ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec low °F | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 5 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 22 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 24 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 31 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 31 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 36 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 43 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 43 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 36 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 26 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 25 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 20 |- ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Precip (in) | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 2.64 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 3.23 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 2.94 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 0.91 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 0.32 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 0.05 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 0.03 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 0.05 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 0.31 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 0.45 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 1.24 | style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 1.84 |- | colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|''Source: USTravelWeather.com [http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-california/santa-maria-weather.asp]'' |} == Vineyards == The Santa Maria Valley AVA is home to many well-regarded vineyards, including Riverbench, Addamo, Rancho Sisquoc, [[Au Bon Climat]], Lucas & Lewellen, Io, Foxen, Cottonwood Canyon, Costa De Oro, Byron, and Cambria.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} == Varietals == Owing the cool growing climate, the valley is best known for its [[Pinot Noir]], [[Syrah]], [[Chardonnay]], and [[Pinot Blanc]].{{Fact|date=June 2008}} == Expansion == On January 28, 2011, the southern border of the Santa Maria Valley AVA was adjusted to bring it into closer alignment with the physical watershed boundary of the Santa Maria River. The revised boundary approximately follows the ridge line dividing the Santa Maria Valley from the Los Alamos Valley. This change added 18,790 acres and nine vineyards to the area. == External links == *[http://www.santamariawines.com Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce ] *[http://www.sbcountywines.com Santa Barbara County Vinters' Association] {{coord missing|California}}