Vineyards

Grapes were first planted here in the late 1700s and, after a pause during Prohibition, the region found its footing again in 1964, when Uriel Nelson planted the first commercial vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. Winegrowers—drawn by the region’s coastal air, intriguing terrain, and untapped potential—gradually returned to the land.

Santa Barbara County

This is a place that lives beautifully, for those who do the same. From ocean to mountains, elevations rise from sea level to nearly 7,000 feet. Fog rolls in, sun breaks through, and exposure changes from one hillside to the next. Vast and varied differences in soil, climate, and topography give rise to distinct expressions—shared at long tables, over leisurely afternoons and evenings.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir lead the way here. They’re sculpted by the cooling influence of the coast, but the region makes room for more—Syrah, Grenache, Chenin Blanc—each settling into its own corner of the landscape.

Today, Santa Barbara County spans seven American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Among them, at the northernmost point, is the Santa Maria Valley—where Cambria is rooted.

Santa Maria Valley

The Santa Maria Valley was named the first AVA in Santa Barbara County in 1981. Here, a rare east–west mountain range opens the valley to the Pacific, 15 miles away. Our estate sits on the Santa Maria Bench—a chair-like formation whose “seat” rises above the valley floor with its “back” formed by mountains that protect our vineyards from heavy winds. Ocean fog enters in the morning, lifts through the day, and returns by afternoon, reminiscent of the tide. This refrigerated sunshine, as we like to call it, extends the growing season, giving fruit with harmony, energy, and texture.

Explore Our Vineyards

The ocean shapes what lies beneath our vineyards. Marine soils—fossils, seashells, and stretches of sand—form a patchwork across the vineyard. Each site shapes the fruit differently, bringing savoriness and minerality, true to where it’s grown.