The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Santa Barbara County, California established on May 16, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after approving a petition submitted by Firestone Vineyard, a bounded winery in Los Olivos, California.

[1][4] It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA, and contains the greatest concentration of wineries in Santa Barbara County.

The valley is formed by the Purisima Hills and San Rafael Mountains to the north and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south creating a long, east-west corridor with very cool temperatures on the coast that become progressively warmer inland.

[5] The Santa Ynez River flows east to west on the valley floor toward the Pacific Ocean.

As of 2021, the Santa Ynez Valley contains four other established viticultural areas: Sta.