California’s best-kept secret when it comes to wine tasting weekend getaways.
Your next California wine weekend getaway awaits! Escape to the heart of the California Central Coast’s wine country—Santa Maria Valley. Grapes in this region produce delightful varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Still, you’ll find many other vivacious varietals here on your next wine tasting weekend getaway. The best part: we’re off the beaten path. You’ll find many hidden gems from our delicious, unpretentious wines, to our award-winning Santa Maria Style barbecue and locally loved craft beer. All will make Santa Maria Valley your favorite wine tasting weekend getaway destination.
Santa Maria Valley offers travelers the ability to see, do, and taste more for less – making us the best wine country weekend getaway. There are 34 wine tasting rooms, 15 serene beaches, 24 spectacular hiking trails and several authentic Santa Maria Style barbecue restaurants within a scenic half-hour drive. Our affordable lodging options offer the perfect accommodations.
Plan the Perfect Wine Country Weekend Getaway
Santa Maria Valley is a wine lover’s paradise. The Travel Channel may have named Santa Maria a Top 10 City for Wine Snobs, but you won’t find any snobbery here. The region’s temperate Mediterranean climate allows grapes to spend extra time on the vine, producing exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. And our relaxed and approachable winemakers are present and welcoming, often pouring your glass themselves.
Santa Maria Valley was the Central Coast’s first official American Viticultural Area (AVA) and boasts over 7,500 acres of vineyards with over 30 tasting rooms. During your wine country weekend getaway, raise a glass of Pinot Noir from Riverbench Vineyard & Winery or Foxen Vineyard & Winery. If you’re more of a white wine connoisseur, you can sip some Chardonnay from Ca’Del Grevino Vineyard and Villa. You can’t go wrong when it comes to signature vintages from the region.
If you get hungry, our Pinot Noir has proven to be the perfect match for Santa Maria Style barbecue. This authentic, fire grilled barbecue ditches the messy sauces and embraces the simplicity of a dry-rub–and boy is it delicious. Stop by one of our must-see locations from our #SantaMariaStyle Barbecue Map during your wine country weekend getaway to see for yourself!
May-October Wine Trip Activities
If your wine country weekend getaway in Santa Maria Valley is between May and October, grab a ticket to ride the Santa Maria Valley Wine Trolley; It’s one of the best and most affordable ways to explore our many local wineries. The trolley makes a loop through the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, stopping at several wine tasting rooms along the way, giving you time to sip in the moment and make the most of your time in Santa Maria Valley.
November-April Wine Trip Activities
If you’re planning your wine country weekend getaway between November and April, wine tasting isn’t the only activity you will want to enjoy. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see thousands of monarch butterflies at the Monarch Dunes Butterfly Grove. Every fall and winter, these butterflies migrate to eucalyptus groves across the Central Coast. The grove at Nipomo Dunes attracts butterflies as far as the eye can see. How about that for your California wine weekend getaway?
Year-Round Activities
Thankfully, wine tasting is a year-round activity. However, Santa Maria Valley’s cool climate allows for more than just sipping wine during your wine country weekend getaway. After you’ve sipped your way through our coastal vineyards, head out for a walk at Oso Flaco Lake. The boardwalk and path are just over a mile long and take hikers directly to the beach, where they can comb for shells and dip their toes in the Pacific Ocean. Once you’ve had your vitamin-sea, stop by the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center located near Oso Flaco Lake. This center offers visitors a history of the dunes. It also includes an exhibit about the recently unearthed Dunes Sphinx, used during the filming of The Ten Commandments nearly 100 years ago.
So, what are you waiting for? Acclaimed California wines, mouth-watering Santa Maria Style barbecue and exciting outdoor activities all await you in Santa Maria Valley, one of the most affordable and memorable wine tasting weekend getaways in California. There’s no pretense here–just the promise of finding something truly special along California’s Central Coast. Don’t take our word for it. Come and see for yourself.
Eat, Drink and Do More for Less
We can’t wait to host you during your next California wine tasting weekend getaway. To help plan your trip, explore our list of winemakers in the region or travel the popular Foxen Canyon Wine Trail for a guide through our beautiful wineries and vineyards producing flavorful blends. For a more extensive itinerary on experiencing our historic wine country, download our Wine Weekend Itinerary. When you’re ready to rest your head after a day of central-coast fun, check out our places to stay–right in the heart of it all!
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With Santa Maria Valley as your home base, you’ll never be bored. Hit the road and explore everything we have to offer, from our 24 hiking trails, 34 tasting rooms, seven unique AVAs, 15 beaches, and a growing selection of local breweries, all within a beautiful, 30-minute drive. There is no need to venture far if you are looking for sand dunes, wine tasting, and authentic Santa Maria Style dining. You’ll find it’s the perfect choice for your wine country weekend getaway, where you can eat, drink, and do more for less. Trust us; you’ll want to stay for longer than a weekend.
