11 Best Wineries in Santa Maria

“On a sun-drenched day in February, we stood with Wes Hagen in the vineyards and soaked in the beauty of the Santa Maria hillside. After our vineyard trek, we sat in the recent homestead of James Ontiveros and tasted some very special Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and yes, even some Cabs from Native 9 / Ranchos de Ontiveros.I can’t imagine a better way to enjoy your day than spending it with Wes, along with a glass of wine, while he shares the rich and storied history of Santa Barbara wine country. His knowledge of the surrounding soils and terroir completely elevated the tasting for us.Carve out some time for your own deep-dive into the wonderful world of Native 9 / Ranchos de Ontiveros wines; it’s worth the trip!“

“As someone always in search of the next adventure, I discovered one of my top five life experiences right here in Santa Maria at Presqu'ile Winery. And what better way to explore its spacious and enchanting grounds than on horseback?

From the moment you arrive, the winery captivates you. The winding road through the vineyard leads to a stunning, modern building. We were warmly welcomed, fitted with helmets, and guided down the property to meet our horses.

Now, let me preface this by saying I have an unreasonable fear of horses. But that didn’t faze our guide, who expertly introduced us to our horses and offered helpful riding tips. These horses, gentle and calm, seemed to truly enjoy their role as guides to the winery grounds. Their “day job” is training new riders—mostly kids.

My horse, Kicks, was a 30-year-old snuggler who immediately put me at ease. When I stopped petting him, he nudged my hand, asking for more affection. As we set off, Kicks patiently followed my commands, guiding me through the experience. Understanding my anxiety, our guide's mother, Sue, walked alongside us the whole time, helping me overcome a lifelong fear.

As we rode, we marveled at the rolling fields, mountains in the distance, and sightings of the coast just a few miles away. The rows of grapevines awaiting harvest gave us a glimpse of the future wine that would soon be tasted. After our ride, we were greeted with a crisp sparkling rosé—a perfect way to end the adventure and begin our wine tasting experience with a curated food pairing.

We returned to the winery, soaking in the views, and settled by the fireplace to sip wine and enjoy good conversation. Our server, a Santa Maria native, was incredibly knowledgeable about their wines, which included chardonnays, pinot noirs, and syrah. She explained the wine-making process in detail and presented a spread of delightful bites to pair with each wine—from a fresh salad with hand-picked fruits and vegetables grown on the property to handmade hummus and a whipped goat and feta spread. The food and wine pairings were an experience in themselves.

Our visit concluded with a tour through the winery's temperature-controlled cave, which stretches 60 feet underground, lined with barrels filled with aging wine. The tour ended on the terrace, where the breathtaking views once again left us in awe.

From start to finish, the entire experience was extraordinary. If this winery wasn’t on your bucket list before, it certainly should be now.“

“Stumbled across this lovely winery after visiting another winery down the road and so happy we came here. Great wines great attentiveness and service from Danica and all!! Highly recommend if you enjoy an easy drinking Pinot Noir and light crisp Chardonnay. Can’t wait to come back.“

“best staff. best owners. great wine.“

“The most idyllic wine tasting spot! We drove past so many wineries and this one was out of this world - the service and just everything. Super happy about this extraordinary experience! The wines were super tasty as well - highly recommend going there!“

“Hands down, my favorite producer of wine“

“I visited on 7/22 and my time there was amazing! Craig was wonderful! He poured some amazing wines and was so nice. He was kind enough to give me the industry discount as I work for Total Wine. And also give us 30% off our purchases. I plan to definitely visit again!“

“Cotiere winemaker proprietor Kevin Law makes some of the most compelling wines in Santa Barbara County and their QPR is absolutely outstanding! He also sources from Napa Valley and those wines are extraordinary as well. We had a magnificent tasting at the winery with Kevin and look forward to our visit every time we travel to Santa Barbara.“

“I am a wine club member here. This place remains true to the term " boutique winery" the surrounding area of Santa Ynez is growing in tourist visits to all the wineries and vineyards. But Tres Hermanas Winery sits nestled adjacent Santa Ynez in Santa Maria. It is absolutely a peaceful, Serene, beautiful. I highly recommend the Pinot Noir ,Sangiovése and the Sadie Cuveé which are my favorites. The picnic area is ample, lush and with beautiful views of the Syrah Vineyards and surrounding mountains. It is for me one of the premier places for a tasting and picnic with out huge crowds which have been growing fast within this last year. Whoever is reading this, please check this place out.“

“This is such a beautiful local wedding or event venue, that we are blessed to cater at often! We love Cottonwood Canyon & their staff!“