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South Central Coast: Santa Maria Valley
The wineries are easily accessible and within a 20 minute drive of each other. All the wineries and tasting rooms in Santa Maria Valley are family owned. This is a rarity in the wine business. Even the larger Kendall-Jackson properties, Cambria and Byron, remain family owned.
Santa Maria Valley, once known only for its row crops and cattle ranches, is now recognized for its Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and cool-climate Syrahs.
A Santa Maria Valley Wine Trail (see smvwines.com) includes Presqu'ile, Kenneth Volk Vineyards, Costa De Oro Winery, McKeon Phillips, Rancho Sisquoc, Cambria, Byron, Foxen, and Cottonwood Canyon.
Recommended Wineries
| Bien Nacido Vineyards |
| Phone | 805-937-2506 |
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| Tasting Room | 2963 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, CA 93441; open Thursday-Monday |
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| Winemaker | Trey Fletcher |
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| Owner | Stephen Miller |
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| Comments | Solomon Hills Vineyard and Bien Nacido Vineyard under same management. Grapes provided to numerous California producers as well as estate wines. Tours of vineyard available by special appointment only. |
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| PoP coverage | Bien Nacido Vineyards |
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| Byron Vineyard & Winery |
| Phone | 805-934-4770 |
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| Tasting Room | By appointment. |
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| Production | 25,000 cases Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah. |
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| Winemaker | Jonathan Nagy |
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| Owner | Artisan & Estates |
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| Comments | Established by Ken Brown in 1984. |
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| PoP coverage | Byron Vineyard & Winery |
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| Cambria Estate Vineyard and Winery |
| Phone | 805-937-8091 |
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| Tasting Room | Open daily, 10-5. Tours by appointment. Picnic area and picnic supplies. |
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| Production | 20,000 cases Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah |
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| Winemaker | Denise Shurtleff |
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| Owner | Kendall-Jackson |
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| Comments | Established in 1987. |
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| Foxen Winery |
| Phone | 805-937-4251 |
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| Tasting Room | Open daily 11-4. Tours by appointment. |
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| Production | 12,000 cases Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Syrah. |
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| Winemaker | William Wathen |
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| Owner | William Wathen |
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| Comments | Established in 1985. Full-throttle, richly fruited Pinot Noirs. |
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| PoP coverage | Foxen Winery |
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| Presqu'ile Winery |
| Phone | 805-937-8110 |
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| Tasting Room | Tours and tastings at spectacular hilltop tasting room and winery open daily. |
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| Winemaker | Dieter Cronje |
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| Owner | Murphy family |
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| Comments | Estate vineyard and Santa Maria AVA wines including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Nebbiolo and Sauvignon Blanc. |
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| PoP coverage | Presqu’ile Winery |
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Recommended Lodging
| Holiday Inn |
| Phone | 805-928-6000 |
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| Radisson Hotel |
| Phone | 805-928-8000 |
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| Comments |
Note: Lodging in Shell Beach, San Louis Obispo, Edna Valley, and Santa Ynez Valley about a 45 drive from Santa Maria Valley. |
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Recommended Restaurants
| Chef Ricks |
| Phone | 805-937-9512 |
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| Comments | Louisiana, Southwest and Southern California influences. Excellent. |
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| Dino's Deli |
| Comments | Great gourmet sandwiches for a wine country picnic. near the Santa Maria, Tepesquet and Foxen Canyon Wine Trails. The adjoining gourmet grocery has one of Santa Maria's largest wine selections, with more than 400 labels. |
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| Far Western Tavern |
| Phone | 805-343-2210 |
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| Comments | Very casual, steaks. |
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| Santa Maria Valley BBQ |
| Comments | On the weekends, there are makeshift Santa Maria barbecue pits on corners and various locations. Santa Maria tri tip steak and pinquito beans are a featured and treasured cuisine of this region. |
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| Shaws Famous Steakhouse |
| Phone | 805-925-5862 |
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| Comments | Go for the tri-tip. |
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| Wine Cottage Bistro |
| Phone | 805-934-4546 |
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| Comments | Wine country cuisine with many local wines. Winemaker dinners. |
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Appellation Websites
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