The Santa Maria River runs west through the valley directly to the Pacific Ocean, providing no opposition to the sea fog that quickly moves in at midday and engulfs lower lying vineyards. As a result, this cool area often produces grapes that underripe and highly acidic. This AVA features a long growing season and very little rainfall, meaning grapes have an extensive time to build flavor on the vine.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thrive in the Santa Maria Valley, but the Rhône Rangers are quickly overtaking vineyard plots. Many of the vineyards are farmer-owned and contracted out by the wineries meaning vineyard names are often insignificant, but two of the more notable vineyards are Bien Nacido and Sierra Madre Vineyard.
United States → California → Santa Barbara County
American AVA
Au Bon Climat
Byron
Cambria
Cottonwood Canyon
Io Winery
McKeon-Phillips
Rancho Sisquoc
| Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Knox Alexander 2005 | Santa Maria Valley | Red | |
| Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Isabelle Morgan 2005 | Santa Maria Valley | Red | |
| Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Knox Alexander 2004 | Santa Maria Valley | Red | |
| Au Bon Climat Hildegard Santa Maria Valley 2003 | Santa Maria Valley | White | |
| Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley La Bauge Au-Dessus 2005 | Santa Maria Valley | Red | |
| Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir 'La Bauge Au-dessus' 2005 | Santa Maria Valley | Red | |
| David Bruce Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Bien Nacido Vineyard 2001 | Santa Maria Valley | Red | |
| Cambria Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Julia's Vineyard 2003 | Santa Maria Valley | Red | |
| Byron Pinot Noir Sierra Madre Vineyard 1999 | Santa Maria Valley | Red |