Santa Maria Valley AVA
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.[1][6] 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.[7] On January 28, 2011, the AVA was granted an 29.4 square miles (18,790 acres) expansion to its southern boundary.[4]
History
Santa Maria Valley has a rich viticulture history in California. Grape-growing in the region dates back to the Mexican Colonial period of the 1830s.
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 200 feet (60 m) at the intersection of Highway 101 and the Santa Maria River to approximately 3,200 feet (980 m) at Tepusquet Peak. The grapes that are grown within the area are on the valley floor at an approximate elevation of 300 feet (90 m) and on the slopes and rolling hillsides up to an elevation of 800 feet (240 m).[8]
Climate
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The Santa Maria Valley geography channels dense banks of morning fog from the Pacific Ocean that takes many hours to burn off, only to be replaced by chilly afternoon breezes. This “maritime fringe” climate lengthens the growing season and contributes to the eventual sugar/acid balance in the grapes from the region. Summer in the Santa Maria Valley is goose-bump season, with an average summer temperature of only 75 °F (24 °C).
Climate data for City of Santa Maria, California | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
89 (32) |
95 (35) |
103 (39) |
105 (41) |
110 (43) |
104 (40) |
104 (40) |
106 (41) |
108 (42) |
96 (36) |
90 (32) |
110 (43) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 64.3 (17.9) |
64.7 (18.2) |
66.3 (19.1) |
69.0 (20.6) |
71.4 (21.9) |
74.3 (23.5) |
76.6 (24.8) |
77.8 (25.4) |
77.8 (25.4) |
75.6 (24.2) |
70.0 (21.1) |
64.4 (18.0) |
71.0 (21.7) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 39.1 (3.9) |
41.1 (5.1) |
42.7 (5.9) |
43.6 (6.4) |
46.6 (8.1) |
49.6 (9.8) |
52.3 (11.3) |
53.0 (11.7) |
51.6 (10.9) |
47.8 (8.8) |
43.0 (6.1) |
38.2 (3.4) |
45.7 (7.6) |
Record low °F (°C) | 20 (−7) |
22 (−6) |
24 (−4) |
28 (−2) |
27 (−3) |
35 (2) |
41 (5) |
40 (4) |
32 (0) |
26 (−3) |
21 (−6) |
20 (−7) |
20 (−7) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.11 (79) |
3.50 (89) |
3.19 (81) |
0.96 (24) |
0.32 (8.1) |
0.05 (1.3) |
0.03 (0.76) |
0.05 (1.3) |
0.31 (7.9) |
0.54 (14) |
1.35 (34) |
2.08 (53) |
15.49 (393) |
Source: [10][11] |
Soil
The soils range in texture from a sandy loam to clay loam and are free from adverse salts. Soil variation can broadly be cut into four types. Three types are within the original Santa Maria Valley AVA: the Valley floor, the
Varieties Grown
Due to the cooler mesoclimates, the valley is renowned for producing some of California's finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. These are the appellation's two flagship varieties.[7]
Expansion
On January 28, 2011, the TTB granted a petition to expand the southern border of the Santa Maria Valley AVA to align with the physical watershed boundary of the Santa Maria River. The revised boundary approximately follows the ridge line dividing the
References
- ^ a b c "Santa Maria Valley Viticultural Area" (27 CFR Part 9 [T.D. ATF-89; Ref: Notice No. 360]). Federal Register. 46 (150). Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury: 39811–39812. August 5, 1981. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Estate Wines". The Thornhill Companies. 2021.
- ^ a b Swan, Fred (January 23, 2017). "What Everyone Should Know about the Santa Maria Valley AVA". NorCalWine.com.
- ^ a b c d "Expansion of the Santa Maria Valley Viticultural Area" (27 CFR 9 75 FR 81846 Final Rule, Docket No. TTB-2010-0001 [T.D. TTB-88 Re: Notice No. 103, Doc#: 2010-32873]). Federal Register. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB): 81846–81849. December 29, 2010. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "Santa Maria Valley (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2008. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
- ^ "Wine Growing Areas of Santa Barbara County". Santa Barbara Vintners Association. 2020.
- ^ a b "Santa Maria Valley Wine". Wine-Searcher.
- ^ ISBN 0-87-417543-7.
- ISBN 978-1-56305-434-1.
- ^ "Zipcode 93454". www.plantmaps.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ "Climate in Zip 93454 (Santa Maria, CA)". www.bestplaces.net. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Wakawaka, Hawk (June 10, 2014). "Winegrowing Santa Maria Valley". Wakawaka Wine Review.
External links
- Santa Maria Valley Santa Barbara Vintners Association
- TTB AVA Map