Driving through the rolling hills of Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, one will be transported back to California’s wild west. You will be enticed by the vast meadows and pristine landscapes with rolling hills, warm California sun and blue skies as the backdrop. Within these winding roads are many wineries and vineyards where you’ll find one of California’s Central Coast wine country staples, Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard.
Fess Parker, an actor in the mid-1950s, was widely known as Davy Crockett in the Walt Disney miniseries of same name as well as his turn as Daniel Boone in the 1960s television series. Fess Parker first moved his family to Santa Barbara in the 1960s and started construction of a bluff top home. When heavy rains caused it to collapse onto the beach, he adjusted his plans and headed inland where he discovered the 714-acre Foxen Canyon ranch property.
‘Davy Crockett, King Of The Wild Frontier’
In 1989, Fess Parker, along with his son, Eli, and acclaimed enologist, Jed Steele, planted a 5-acre experimental Riesling vineyard. Eli then planted more vines and started a four-year project to build his family’s legacy in the wine industry to what it is today as Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard.
Today, the Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard is located on a 400-acre Foxen Canyon Road estate and is still a true inspiration of the American Dream while it remains a family-owned business. Eli Parker and his sister, Ashley Parker Snider, continue their family’s legacy as stewards of the family’s vision for the winery. Ashley’s husband, Tim Snider, serves as the President and oversees the day-to-day operations. The family’s vineyard is the 120-acre Rodney’s Vineyard, named after Fess Parker’s late son-in-law. The family also sources 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 Santa Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley appellations.
Andre Tchelistcheff Winemaker of the Year winner, Blair Fox, assumed the role of head winemaker in 2005. A local to the area, Blair Fox started his winemaking career in Santa Barbara County and now does double-duty under his moniker, Blair Fox Cellars, where he explores his passion for Syrah and other Rhone varietals. We definitely recommend the Syrah and that you check out his own Los Olivos tasting room as well when you’re in the area.
Under Fox, the winery sharpened its focus to produce more small-lot, vineyard-designate wines made from high-quality Rhone and Burgundian varietals, which have won awards in national wine competitions.
Andre Tchelistcheff Winemaker of the Year, Blair Fox
We recommend that you visit the Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard when you are in the Los Olivos area. The tasting room is located at 6200 Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos, California. They offer several wine tasting experiences. For “red only” fans, we recommend you enjoy the enhanced Pinot flight outside. You can also visit fessparker.com to read about the different offerings. The tasting room staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the wine and the area. It is family friendly and yes, your “fur-child” can come too. We are looking forward to our next visit.
Looking for a place to stay in Los Olives? There’s also the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn.