Santa Maria, Spanish for “St. Mary”, is located approximately 65 miles northwest of Santa Barbara. It is most notable for its wine industry and Santa Maria-style barbecue. The weather is a cool Mediterranean climate which is mostly sunny with an occasional ocean breeze. Santa Maria-style barbecue is a culinary tradition that started in the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County on the Central Coast of California. Santa Maria-style barbecue uses beef tri-tip, seasoned with black pepper, salt, and garlic before grilling over coals of native “red oak” wood. The Santa Maria Valley is one of the nation’s largest wine-producing regions known as Santa Barbara Wine Country.