A Weekend Trip To Solvang: Fess Parker Winery

I'm no stranger to the Central Coast.  In fact, in my past life working finance in school construction at least a couple time a month I would hop on a Cessna to Santa Maria to meet with clients. I got to try the wonders of Santa Maria Tri-Tip and the fantastic Mexican food that rivals the best places in Los Angeles County.  Stops into San Luis Obispo were my great, as were the blips of time in Santa Barbara wineries.  My favorite was always the little Dutch town of Solvang.

Lucky for me my husband's family feels the same love for this out-of-the-way, blast-from-the-past city and they bought a gorgeous vacation home right on the historic block down by Hans Christian Andersen Park.  We took out first trip to the new digs this past weekend and came back happier and more relaxed than we've been in months.

Pictures of the jaunt can be found here.  What I really want to talk about is the wine.

We drove out to Los Olivos to pick up some sandwiches and head over to Fess Parker Winery for a picnic. 

The roads in this town are amazing.  You drive along and all of a sudden you're hit with a view of the entire valley of green surrounded with the bluest of clear skies.

Then you get to where you're going and find that along with the rockin' scenery the wine is top notch.

In the course of my Fess Parker experience I learned that savvy businessman Fess had it written in the contract that he got a portion of the sales from coonskin caps, rifles and other paraphernalia related to the Davy Crockett  franchise.  Walt Disney and Co. assuming the show wouldn't run for too long agreed.  Now the Parker empire includes a Doubletree formerly known as the Red Lion and this amazing winery (pictured with what I think is a grape mill) .

Over at Fess Parker's I had the pleasure of tasting the following:


2007 Chardonnay "Ashley" - 93 Point - Wine Enthusiast.  I found this to have a peachy peary creamy buttery nose but tasting of mildly tart green apple citrus hybrids. It's not too oakey and has a nice clean finish.  Probably great with seafood but fantastic with sharp cheeses. Retails for $30.

2008 Viognier "Santa Barbara County."  This was a really honeyed and vanilla nose with a sweet acidic front, full bodied mouth feel with a touch of stone fruit. This was favorite for one of us in the group who also loves brut champagne.  Retails for $24.

2007 Pinot Noir Pommard Clone - 92 Point - Wine Enthusiast.   Reds are my favorite but I find Pinot Noirs so finicky of a grape that it's hard to find a good one. This was a chocolately, cherry nose with a tart front but clean and balanced tannins.  Minerals and mildly herbaceous flavors in the backdrop.  Too young right now but will probably benefit from aging. Retails for $58.

2006 Pinot Noir "Bien Nacido Vineyard." Again, you'll have to excuse my lack of enthusiasm.  This had a mocha and woody nose with a berry front and a long finish. Retails for $55. 

2006 Syrah "American Tradition Reserve" - 90 Point - Robert Parker.  Did you know that Syrahs are my favorite?  It's such an easy grape to work with that it's rare to fine one that is just out and out bad.  Plus, it's an easy grape to grow resulting in some of the best red wine values on the market.  This bottle was my favorite with a cherry, vanilla berry nose followed with a deep fruit and tannin balance finishing long and dry.  Yum.  Retails for $35.

2006 Syrah "Rodney's Vineyard" - 93 Point - The Wine Advocate.  I was a little over-tasted by this time.  It's my fault, I don't spit.  I know you're supposed to but geez, why?!  This had a mildly musty nose with a savory almost meaty plum and apricot front.  Very full bodied and complex with a pleasant mid length finish.  Retails for $45.

Next stop on this Central Coast booze trip, one of my favorites, Stolpman Wineries.