Why you should visit Santa Maria wineries
This blog post covers the best wineries in Santa Maria, California.
Santa Maria wineries are famous for their world-class wine. Cool-climate Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay are the name of the game here.
Santa Maria Valley is also known for its unique geography. The valley enjoys an east-west orientation that allows cool ocean air to funnel into the valley. The resulting Mediterranean climate and long growing season produces grapes that are balanced and complex.
Santa Maria wineries are also easy to access. The Santa Maria Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) occupies the northern perimeter of Santa Barbara County. The town of Santa Maria is located just 40 minutes by car from the town of Santa Ynez. It would be pretty easy to combine a trip to the Santa Ynez Valley with a trip to the Santa Maria Valley.
How to access the best Santa Maria wineries
Santa Maria is accessible from major California cities
Santa Maria wineries are within easy driving distance of several major cities and towns.
If you already live in Santa Barbara County, then great! You can simply drive to the wineries on this list. But if you live out of state you’ll need to plan ahead. Your best bet is to fly into one of the cities I mention below, rent a car at the airport, and drive from the airport to the wineries on this list.
The good news is the town of Sant Maria has an airport. It’s called Santa Maria Airport (SMX). The bad news is that flights are extremely limited. Allegiant Air operates flights to Las Vegas. And that’s about it. Luckily there are other airports in nearby towns.
The next closest airport is located in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is 68 miles from Santa Maria, which should take about 1 hour and 5 minutes by car.
The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) is also an option. It’s 27 miles from SBP, which should take about 32 minutes by car.
The closest major city is Los Angeles. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 163 miles from Santa Maria. The drive should take approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. But the drive could take longer depending on Los Angeles traffic.
Santa Maria is near other Santa Barbara County towns
Santa Maria is near several other small towns in Santa Barbara wine country.
- Los Olivos is 30 miles away, which is about 30 minutes by car.
- Buellton is 33 miles away, which is a roughly 33 minute drive.
- The town of Santa Ynez is 35 miles away, which is about a 39 minute drive.
- Los Alamos is 19 miles from Santa Maria, which should take you 22 minutes by car.
As you can see, a car is required to access the Santa Maria wineries on this list. And you’ll need a car to go wine tasting in neighboring towns.
The best Santa Maria wineries for a wine tasting
Presqu’ile Wines
Presqu’ile Winery makes cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.
Presqu’ile is a French name that’s pronounced like press-keel. In French the phrase “pres qu’ile” means “near the island” or “almost an island.” It can refer to a peninsula that is nearly an island, meaning the base (or neck) of the peninsula is quite skinny. This winery is not part of a peninsula. So I think it’s safe to assume the owners simply thought the name sounded very French and very chic. Mais, oui!
Presqu’ile Wines works with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Syrah grapes. They also make sparkling wine.
You can sample Presqu’ile Wines at their stunning hilltop winery in the Santa Maria Valley. The property boasts gorgeous vineyard views, fireside lounges outdoors, and an organic herb garden.
It’s important to note that Presqu’ile Winery offers tastings by reservation only. You can make a reservation via the Presqu’ile Winery Tock profile. There’s an “Estate Tasting” for $45 per person for those who’d like a straightforward experience.
The “Wine + Food Experience” costs $70 per person and includes a picnic. The “Presqu’ile Food + Wine Tour” costs $150-165 per person and includes wine, food, and a tour of the wine cave. If you’d like something really fun then check out the “Horseback Estate Tour + Tasting Experience.” This exclusive guided tour includes a trail ride through the 400-acre estate plus a wine tasting with food pairing. This experience is $250 per person.
The Presqu’ile Winery tasting room is open weekdays from 12-5 PM. On weekends they’re open from 11:30 AM to 5 PM. On Tuesdays they’re closed.
Amplify Wines
Amplify Wines makes natural wine using native yeast, neutral vessels, and minimal sulfur.
Their wines are bright, fresh, and very easy to drink.
Amplify Wines is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Cameron and Marlen Porter. These Santa Barbara County natives utilize Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Marsanne, Mourvèdre, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon grapes.
Amplify Wines is a small family-run winery and their tasting room is open by appointment only. You must make a reservation 48 hours in advance.
There’s no quick way to make a booking online. Instead you’ll need to fill out the contact form on the winery’s website. Ask for a private tasting. The winery offers tastings between 11 AM and 4 PM. Tastings typically last 90 minutes and include five current release wines.
Cambria Estate Winery
Cambria Estate Winery was one of the first wineries in the Santa Maria Valley.
The estate encompasses one of the region’s first vineyards (Tepusquet Vineyard), which was planted in 1971. In 1986 founders Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson bought Tepusquet Vineyard and established Cambria winery. Nearly four decades later the winery continues to thrive.
Cambria’s current winemaker Jill Russell prioritizes vineyard health. She oversees the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Syrah grapes grown onsite.
You can taste Cambria’s sustainable wines at their Santa Maria estate. The Cambria Estate Winery tasting room offers three different tasting experiences. The “Estate” tasting for $25 per person, the “Reserve” tasting for $35 per person.
And the “Picnic Bottle Service” costs $50 for the table fee (bottle price not included). Guests can enjoy these experiences in three places: inside the tasting lounge, outside on the patio, or on a hill with vineyard views.
Bien Nacido Estate
Bien Nacido Vineyard is one of the oldest cool-climate vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley.
The name Bien Nacido means “well born” in Spanish. This land was originally part of the Rancho Tepusquet land grant back when California still belonged to Mexico. The property’s original 1857 adobe house still stands today.
In 1969 the Miller family purchased this property and, under their keen eye, Bien Nacido Vineyard has blossomed. Today the land is home to Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, and Chardonnay grapes.
The Bien Nacido tasting room in Santa Maria is called The Gatehouse. At The Gatehouse you can sample wines from Bien Nacido as well as their sister winery Solomon Hills Estate.
Bien Nacido Estate offers several tasting options. The “Estate Tasting Flight” starts at $45 per person. Both the “Burgundy Tasting Flight” and the “Rhône Tasting Flight” start at $60 per person. The “Black Label Tasting Flight” starts at $75 per person and features the finest wines from Bien Nacido winery.
Riverbench Vineyard & Winery
Riverbench Vineyard and Winery is a self-described “boutique grower-producer estate winery.” They make Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and sparkling wines in small lots.
Riverbench Vineyard and Winery has two winery tasting rooms. The main tasting room is located at the Riverbench estate in Santa Maria. The winery’s second tasting room is located in Santa Barbara, California.
The Santa Maria wine estate boasts an American Craftsman-style house, which dates back to the 1920s. It’s the perfect place for a tasting.
Guests can choose between several tasting experiences. The “A Taste of Riverbench” costs $25 per person; this is the most basic offering. The “Accolade Tasting” costs $29 per person and features wines that are 90+ points.
“Sip & Savor” is a 90 minute experience for $55 per person that pairs cheese and meat with the wine flight. And the “Estate Vineyard Tour & Private Tasting” costs $95 per person. Riverbench’s winery tours are the best option if you want an inside look into the winemaking process. You can make a reservation via the Riverbench Winery Tock profile.
Foxen Vineyard & Winery
In 1985 Bill Wathen and Dick Doré founded Foxen Vineyard & Winery. The founders prioritize sustainable farming and minimalist winemaking.
Foxen Vineyard & Winery works with grapes such as Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Vermentino, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
You can taste Foxen wines in three places. FOXEN Tasting Room is a solar-powered building styled after a rustic ranch. You can sample the winery’s Burgundian and Rhône-style wines here.
The second tasting room is foxen 7200. Built in the 1860s, this rustic “Shack” is where the winery pours their Italian-style and Bordeaux-style wines.
Behind foxen 7200 is a barn. Inside you’ll find Bill & Dick’s Most Excellent Clubhouse (also called The Clubhouse) where up to thirty people can enjoy a group tasting. All three of these buildings are located on Foxen Canyon Road.
Other California wine regions to visit
The best wine country towns in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County is a wonderful California wine region ready for exploration. The Santa Ynez Valley is home to several charming towns all within easy driving distance of the Santa Maria wineries we just discussed.
Solvang is about 40 minutes by car from Santa Maria. Known as the “Danish capital of America,” Solvang is simply adorable. It has thatched roofs, traditional windmills, and quaint shops. And guess what else they have… wine! Here are six Solvang wineries that will make your trip even better.
Los Olivos is a 30 minute drive from Santa Maria. Los Olivos is a town with great restaurants, art galleries, and old-fashioned buildings. And of course they have wine. These six Los Olivos, California wineries make delightful organic wines.
Los Alamos, California is another small town situated in the Santa Ynez Valley. Los Alamos is about 23 minutes by car from Santa Maria. This list covers the four best organic Los Alamos wineries that will round out your adventure.
Buellton is a roughly 34 minute drive from the town of Santa Maria. It’s not as flashy as Los Olivos or as trendy as Los Alamos. But these four wineries in Buellton make outstanding wines using sustainable methods.
The town of Santa Ynez is situated within the Santa Ynez Valley (the name is redundant, I know). The town of Santa Ynez is about a 40 minute drive from Santa Maria. Our list of the best Santa Ynez wineries includes big ranches, Tuscan-style estates, and small family run operations.
Other California wine regions worth a trip
The Santa Ynez Valley is within easy driving distance of the Los Angeles area.
Did you know that LA has wonderful wineries too? These six amazing Los Angeles wineries offer various styles of wine. Some of these wineries craft fresh natural wines. Others make the big bold reds California is known for.
If you’re going to visit Los Angeles then you should stop in Malibu. There are several Malibu wineries and wine bars that are near the Pacific Ocean and nestled high in the hills.
Southern California and California’s Central Coast have plenty to offer. But we all know Northern California offers the most famous California wine country destinations like the Napa Valley.
The Russian River Valley is one destination worth a trip. The valley is famous for world-class Pinot Noir. We’ve narrowed the list down to four Russian River wineries that farm organically or biodynamically.
Auburn, California is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. The town’s about an hour-long drive from downtown Sacramento. These Auburn wineries offer delicious wine and great views in a relaxed Northern California setting.
