In a broader sense of the term, Santa Maria Barbecue could be described as a form of terroir. After all, it’s a uniquely regional cuisine based on native methods and ingredients, including pinquito beans and red oak. It tells the story of a place, its land and its people.

This notion is supported by the new book called American Terroir, in which author Rowan Jacobson makes the case that “foods that are what they are because of where they come from.” Similarly, the book Renewing America’s Food Traditions calls Santa Maria Style Barbecue “a mainstay of California’s culinary heritage.”

In some ways, Santa Maria Style Barbecue could be considered “old school,” as its origins date back to the 19th century. At the same time, however, Santa Maria BBQ belongs to the new wave of local cuisine, as more and more people embrace regional authenticity in their food and see the value in nurturing our nation’s culinary terroir.

We like to put it this way: Santa Maria Style Barbecue proves that good taste never goes out of style.

If you haven’t already, make plans to visit the Santa Maria Valley for a taste of our terroir, in the vineyards, the strawberry fields and the many restaurants serving Santa Maria Style Barbecue.

The free 16-page glossy booklet is available directly through the Chamber. To obtain a copy, just call (800) 331-3779 or stop by the Chamber at 614 South Broadway in Santa Maria. The booklet is also viewable and printable by clicking here.

The booklet, which is titled Santa Maria Valley Wine Country: A Guide to Local Wineries and Restaurants, offers a new cover and layout; a larger map; expanded sections on Santa Maria Valley restaurants; local wine and food shopping; wine pairing suggestions with Santa Maria Style barbecue; wine packages and tasting tours; and a wine events calendar.

We’ll take this opportunity to remind you that the Santa Maria Valley is home to Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s number one wine on its most recent list of Top 100 Wines, and home to the upcoming first annual Chardonnay Symposium. So come out and discover what wine writer Steve Heimoff calls “an insider’s secret.”

Wine Country Minute is a web site and e-newsletter that helps you discover the best that the wine country has to offer, from food to travel, shopping to wine appreciation.

On the subject of Santa Maria barbecue, Wine Country Minute writes, “The meat, plus a special dry rub of salt, pepper, garlic salt…sets the regional dish apart from the standard,” adding that native pinquito beans are also essential to the experience.

They add: “Turns out the red wines from the Santa Maria Valley pair pretty well with this sort of fare. Santa Maria Valley combines California’s longest growing season with the cool ocean air off the Pacific. The result is a complex cadre of well-balanced wines. The Syrahs can boast intense black fruit, often with a peppery essence and Pinots tend toward earthy with a nice balance of red and black fruits.”

They conclude: “Next time you fire up the grill, experience a taste of the Central Coast’s wine country with Santa Maria Style barbecue.”

‘Nuff said!

Are you getting thirsty? Good, because at the upcoming Santa Barbara County Vintners’ festival on April 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., you will be able to sample a wide array of local wines, including those from the neighboring Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Rita Hills. The event will be held at River Park in Lompoc.

The festivities will include live music and appetizers from a variety of local restaurants. Please visit www.sbcountywines.com or call (805) 688-0881 for tickets and information.

P.S. For more information on touring the Santa Maria Valley wine country, visit www.santamariavalleywinecountry.com and www.santamaria.com. Click here for restaurants specializing in Santa Maria Style Barbecue, and here for information on a dining promition that coincides with the vintner’s festival.

Indeed, as we pointed out earlier this year, two wines from the Santa Maria Valley were named to the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines of 2008 out of 19,000 wines tasted from around the world.

Now we have more good news to report heading into 2010, as the 2006 Pinot Noir Julia’s Vineyard from our very own Cambria Winery has been named Wine Enthusiast magazine’s #1 wine on its Top 100 list for 2009 and has also been named Wine.com’s #1 wine on its Top 100 list for 2009 as well. Bravo, Cambria Winery!

So what’s the secret behind the magnificent award-winning wines of the Santa Maria Valley? Well, for starters, our region boasts a rare “transverse” geography, an east-west orientation that channels cool ocean air directly into the valley. The result is one of California’s longest growing seasons, which ensures the development of complex, flavorful and exquisitely balanced grapes. Additionally, our wine country is brimming with extraordinary winemaking talent.

The wines of the Santa Maria Valley, especially the red wines, have also proven to be a perfect match for Santa Maria Style Barbecue, adding a fresh dimension to this local culinary tradition. Today, more than a dozen winery tasting rooms welcome you to the Santa Maria Valley. Here, you will taste Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and many other varietals that excel in our extraordinary coastal climate and beautiful countryside. Visit the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country web site to plan your tour.

Now, with the holidays on the horizon, you can indulge in the Santa Maria Valley taste experience during the “Wine Christmas” passport weekend on December 5-6, 2009.

During this event, 11 local wineries will break out the good cheer with holiday decor, music, cookies and more. Your $30 passport ticket includes a Riedel glass and tastings at each of the participating wineries. These wineries will also be offering wine and gift specials for stress-free holiday shopping. Click here for tickets and information.

The Santa Maria Valley Wine Country has also launched a companion web site at www.winecountryholiday.com, which showcases holiday events and specials througout the region during the passport weekend.

For visitors attending the “Wine Christmas” passport event, special lodging rates are available at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, Best Western Big America, Historic Santa Maria Inn and Radisson Hotel. Breakaway Tours, Central Coast Shuttle Services, and Classic Motoring Car Rentals will also offer special rates for passport participants. Just mention the code SMVWINES at any of the above businesses for your savings.

And don’t forget: no visit to the Santa Maria Valley is complete without a taste of Santa Maria Style Barbecue. Click here for a list of local restaurants who offer this sizzling sensation.

Santa Maria Valley Wine Country

The Santa Maria Valley Wine Country’s popular “Vineyard Walks” continue on August 8 as vintner Gary Burk of Costa de Oro Winery leads guests on a personal tour of his Gold Coast Vineyard. Attendance is free.

This is the latest in a monthly series that will continue through October. For more information and reservations, click here.

Costa de Oro is a family-owned winery specializing in estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The winery tasting room is located on Stowell Road next to Highway 101, and is adjoined by a marketplace featuring fresh produce (including strawberries and sweet corn) from the affiliated Gold Coast Farm. Click here for more information on Costa de Oro Winery.

P.S. On an unrelated side note, click here for a recap of the recent success of the Wild West BBQ Bash fundraiser in Santa Maria. It sounds like this is a classic Santa Maria Style Barbecue event in the making. Stay tuned for details on next summer’s sequel!

A typical visit to the wine country involves merely looking at grapevines from a winery terrace or through the windshield. But in the Santa Maria Valley, you can now get up close and personal with local vineyards as the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country hosts monthly complimentary vineyard walks from May through October.

Click here for the schedule, which features esteemed sites such as Bien Nacido, Riverbench, Costa de Oro and Cottonwood Canyon.

The vineyard walks are led by local viticulturists and vintners, who offer a firsthand look at viticultural techniques, stages of grapevine growth, soil profiles and more. In the end, guests gain an insider’s glimpse into how what goes on in the vineyard shapes what goes into the bottle.

Of the Santa Maria Valley wine country, renowned wine writer Steve Heimoff recently wrote, “It may well have the highest overall quality of grapes and wines of any AVA in California…Santa Maria Valley is an insider’s secret, a special place that knowledgeable people go to while the crowds throng the tasting rooms of Santa Ynez Valley.”

So take a vineyard walk and discover what all the fuss is about. Of course, even if you can’t make it for a vineyard walk, you can still sample local wines at a dozen winery tasting rooms in the Santa Maria Valley.

He writes: “I couldn’t agree more with Appellation America’s description of Santa Maria Valley as ‘one the finest viticultural regions in North America.’ It may well have the highest overall quality of grapes and wines of any AVA in California…Santa Maria Valley is an insider’s secret, a special place that knowledgeable people go to while the crowds throng the tasting rooms of Santa Ynez Valley.”

Just more confirmation that, like Santa Maria Style Barbecue, the Santa Maria Valley wine country is one of California’s tastiest experiences!

The vineyards and wineries of the Santa Maria Valley were featured prominently in the hit movie Sideways, and two wines from the region were recently named to the Wine Spectator’s prestigious list of Top 100 Wines of 2008 out of more than 19,000 wines from around the world.

The wines of the Santa Maria Valley, especially the red wines, have also proven to be a perfect match for Santa Maria Style Barbecue, adding a fresh dimension to this local culinary tradition.

The Santa Maria Valley boasts a rare “transverse” geography, an east-west orientation that channels cool ocean air directly into the valley. The result is one of California’s longest growing seasons, which ensures the development of complex, flavorful and exquisitely balanced grapes.

Today, more than a dozen winery tasting rooms welcome you to the Santa Maria Valley. Here, you will taste Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and many other varietals that excel in our extraordinary coastal climate and beautiful countryside.

For more information on touring the Santa Maria Valley wine country, visit www.santamariavalleywinecountry.com and www.santamaria.com.