Our Story
Driving north along the pastoral Foxen Canyon Wine Trail feels like traveling back to California's early days. Rolling hills frame vast meadows, deer and wildlife roam free, and pristine landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see. This peaceful environment enticed the late Fess Parker into buying a 714-acre ranch here back in 1988. The Texas-born actor, who played the television roles of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone in the 1950s and 1960s, had moved his family to Santa Barbara in the early 1960s and begun construction of a blufftop home. When heavy rains caused it to collapse onto the beach, he revised his plans and headed inland.
There, he discovered the Foxen Canyon property, where he initially planned to run cattle, plant a few grapes to sell to other vintners, and establish a small winery. Parker, an only child, dreamed of starting a family business that he could pass on to future generations. He asked his children to join him, and they planted a five-acre experimental Riesling vineyard in 1989. Eli, his son, started as assistant winemaker and spent three years under the tutelage of acclaimed enologist Jed Steele before taking the helm. Eli then planted more vines and started a four-year project to build a cutting-edge winery and tasting room.
Eli Parker and his sister Ashley continue to stay involved as stewards of the family's vision for the winery while Ashley's husband Tim Snider serves as President and oversees day-to-day operations. The family's vineyard is the 120-acre Rodney's Vineyard, named after Fess Parker's late son-in-law, at the 400-acre Foxen Canyon Road estate where the winery is located. They also source grapes from Camp Four vineyard in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, which Parker planted in 1998 as well as vineyards in the cooler Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley appellations. Blair Fox assumed the role of head winemaker in 2005. In recent years, the winery has sharpened its focus to produce more small-lot, vineyard-designated wines made from high-quality Rhone and Burgundian varietals, which have won awards in national wine competitions.
Completed in 1994, the new winery and tasting room are loosely designed after an Australian sheep station, with a grand stone fireplace, stone floors, and a wraparound veranda with picnic tables. The spacious complex is set amid an acre of meticulously landscaped grounds that border the vineyard. The amphitheater-style lawn, rimmed by mature oaks, provides a serene setting for picnics, summer evening performances by Shakespeare Santa Barbara, and other events. Indoors, visitors taste the latest vintages at a worn knotty pine bar, surrounded by photos of Fess Parker as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone and other memorabilia related to the actor's television roles.
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California » Santa Barbara County
COLOR: opaque purple AROMAS: blackberry, black cherry, plum, boysenberry, vanilla, baking spices, smoked chocolate, anise FLAVORS: blueberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, plum, smoked meat, vanilla
10dCalifornia » Santa Barbara County
Wine Enthusiast 89 "This is a steal for under $20, offering aromas of apple flesh, ripe pear, brioche and yellow grapefruit on the nose. The palate
California » Santa Barbara County
Wine Enthusiast 90 Aromas of melon, yellow peach, lemon rind and chalky minerality lead into a palate loaded with ripe stone-fruit flavors that are balanced by
50eCalifornia » Sta Rita Hills
Wine Advocate 92 “Fess Parker's 2014 Pinot Noir Ashley’s Vineyard, which is all from the Rancho Las Hermanas Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, is a
The Tasting Panel 92 This multi-appellated Pinot Noir has a perfume of cherry pie with dashes of clove and nutmeg. Husky notes of cedar-plum and herbs
Vinous 95 "The 2016 The Big Easy is fabulous. Rich, powerful and flamboyant to its core the Big Easy hits the palate with tremendous fruit
California » Santa Barbara County
Vinous 90 "The 2015 Marcella's, Fess Parker's white Rhône blend, is gorgeous. Soft, open-knit and expressive, the 2015 offers striking depth, nuance and freshness. Apricot, mint,
Wine Advocate 91 "With loads of upfront appeal, the 2010 The Big Easy dishes out plenty of chocolaty dark fruits, leather, ground pepper and asphalt aromas
Wine Advocate 91 "One of the more civilized and streamlined versions of this cuvee, the 2011 The Big Easy gives up loads of black fruits, tar
A terrific value in Chardonnay, the 2014 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County is juicy, medium to full-bodied, sweetly fruited and offers terrific notes of white peach,
"This medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir displays enticing cherry, plum and strawberry fruit flavors on the nose and palate complemented by nuances of spice, clove
Robert Parker 90 "Named after Fess Parkers wife, the medium to full-bodied 2002 Chardonnay Marcellas Vineyard boasts layers of richness in the mouth. Its restrained yet
Robert Parker 88 "While not as impressive as the 2001, the 2000 Pinot Noir Marcella’s Vineyard is a charming, nicely structured, slightly oakier offering with a
Wine & Spirits 92 "Aromas of apple, pear and pineapple combine with a touch of oak, melon and white flowers to create this refreshing Chardonnay. The
Robert Parker 90 "The exceptional, light straw-colored 2000 Chardonnay Marcella's Vineyard displays structure as well as copious quantities of tropical fruits and minerals, significant length, and
Robert Parker 92 "From a vineyard named after Fess Parkers late son-in-law, the 2002 Syrah Rodneys Vineyard boasts a sweet perfume of Valrhona chocolate intermixed with
Robert Parker 88 "The 2008 Viognier Santa Barbara is an inexpensive, tasty introduction to what Santa Barbara Viognier is all about. Abundant notes of tropical fruits,
"Supple yet a bit racy, with blackberry and smoky oak aromas leading to layered and appealingly rustic huckleberry, licorice and beef flavors that fan out
" This handcrafted wine represents the best of what Santa Barbara County Chardonnay has to offer. Flavors of ripe apple, butter, lemon and melon
