Editing Santa Maria, California (section)

===Wine===
{{Main|Santa Maria Valley AVA}}

Santa Maria, along with the neighboring [[Lompoc, California|Lompoc]], [[Los Alamos, California|Los Alamos]] and [[Santa Ynez Valley]]s, combine to create one of the nation's largest wine-producing regions, referred to as the Santa Barbara Wine Country.

The often foggy and windswept Santa Maria Valley is the northernmost appellation in [[Santa Barbara County]]. The region's first officially approved [[American Viticultural Area]] (AVA) enjoys extremely complex soil conditions and diverse microclimates. [[Chardonnay]] and [[Pinot noir]] are two varietals which especially benefit from the ocean's influence, and are the flagship wines of this appellation.

Santa Maria Valley grapes are also used by wineries throughout [[Santa Barbara County]] and at many wineries outside of the county. The Santa Maria Valley name is used on labels from wineries that are based far away from the Santa Barbara County sunshine. The Santa Maria Valley appellation is bounded by the [[San Rafael Mountains]] and the [[Los Padres National Forest]] to the east, and by the Solomon Hills and the city of Santa Maria to the west.