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SANTA MARIAWINE COUNTRY THIS WEEKSanta Maria – The Hidden Jewel of Santa BarbaraOver the years the landscape of the Santa Maria Valley has steadilyevolved and, unbeknownst to many, offers one of the most uniqueWine Country experiences on the Central Coast. While travelingHighway 101 into Santa Maria, a glance to the west offers views of agrowing city that takes pride in its historic roots. A view to the eastoffers a variety of agricultural landscapes with a vineyard here andthere, steadily increasing until you realize it: you are in WineCountry, Santa Maria Valley Wine Country.The region encompasses more than 50 wineries, with an idealsetting for Rhône and Burgundian varietals. Proximity to the coast,an average temperature around 64 degrees, surrounding mountainranges and cool winds out of the northwest come together where theSanta Maria River winds through a myriad of elevated plateaus.Santa Maria Valley is the only region on the west coasts of North andSouth America where two transverse mountain ranges are located,creating a unique funnel effect, pushing breezes into the valley. Infact, this one of a kind landscape makes Santa Maria home to one ofthe most constant temperatures of any city in California.And the wines – Kenneth Volk, Cambria, Costa de Oro andAddamo Estate Vineyards are just a few of the tasting rooms in thevalley (for a complete listing of Santa Maria tasting rooms, see theback section of this magazine) as well as a host of other wineriessuch as Au Bon Climat, Qupé and Alta Maria who call Santa Mariatheir home but do not operate tasting rooms. Volk, perhaps bestknown as the founder of Wild Horse Winery in the Paso Robles AVA,has worked with fruit from throughout the Central Coast, earning areputation for crafting world-class wines, particularly Pinot Noir andChardonnay, and he is proud to call Santa Maria Valley his enologicalhome.This esteemed coastal appellation has grown steadily, albeitslowly over the years. The pace of growth is intentional; the winegrowingcommunity of Santa Maria Valley is protective of its history,character and potential. Though some are larger in scope thanothers, all of the valley’s tasting rooms offer an intimate atmospherefor enjoying the fruits of their labor. The newest among them isRiverbench, having opened its doors in April of this year.To the west, the town of Santa Maria is full of surprises, with abroad range of top level accommodations and historic boutiquehotel experiences waiting to be discovered. And as with any topwine region, Santa Maria Valley Wine Country is home to a growingcommunity of top chefs, each with a unique flavor.While many choose to stay in surrounding areas, Santa Mariaoffers full-service accommodations within the valley, includingwine touring packages through many of its hotels. Guests can saveon travel time (and expense), and maximize their time in thevineyards and tasting rooms, exploring the quietly burgeoningSanta Maria Valley Wine Country. For more information, visitwww.santamariavalleywinecountry.com.1351McKeon-PhilipsSKYWAYAddamoVineyardsOrcuttTo San Luis Obispo(32 miles, see page 32 )BLOSSERCLARKMAINBROADWAY101STOWELLCOSTA DE OROBETTERAVIATELEPHONEDOMINIONCottonwoodCanyonSANTA MARIA MESA RDRiver BenchVineyards135Santa MariaCambriaKENNETHVOLKVINEYARDSTEPUSQUETByronRancho SisquocFoxen VineyardsFOXEN CANYON RD1Los AlamosToLompoc(18 miles, see page 34)/Solvang (34 miles, see page 34)BedfordThompsonALISOS CANYONCurtisFirestoneTres HermanasZaca MesaFess ParkerKoehlerFOXEN CANYON RDSTAZACA154101To Solvang(17 miles, see page 34)To Los Olivos(11 miles,see page 34)32www.winecountrythisweek.com