Steve Loves California Chardonnay!

Steve Heimoff of Wine Enthusiast wrote a post on his blog today about The Chardonnay Symposium. We’re very grateful for the extra publicity and love hearing that Chardonnay is his favorite white California varietal.

Check it out:
http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2010/05/26/announcing-the-first-chardonnay-symposium/

My only comment is in response to his note about the lack of quality hotels in the area. Fortunately, accommodations in Santa Maria have greatly improved over the last year. First of all, there have been many multi-million dollar renovations (Radisson, the Historic Santa Maria Inn, Holiday Inn, Rodeway Inn). Second, there are two new hotels off Broadway. One of the most drastic renovations probably is the Rodeway Inn. From the outside it looks like a motel that might not be the ideal overnight stay for a wine connoisseur. However, take a look at the photos of the inside–it’s pretty amazing. I would like to stay there myself and I live here!

If you have a favorite chain of hotels (Radisson, Best Western, Holiday Inn, etc.) you can likely find it in Santa Maria. Check out our accomodations page on www.thechardonnaysymposium.com.

Kady Fleckenstein, Executive Director of the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country (smvwines.com) and owner of marketing/public relations company, kadydid.

Marshall Miller to Join Bien Nacido Vineyards and Other Family Holdings

Marshall Miller, member of the Miller farming family of Santa Barbara County (owners of Bien Nacido Vineyards, Solomon Hills Vineyards, French Camp Vineyards, Central Coast Wine Services and Paso Robles Wine Services) has joined the family business. He will become the newest member of their management team.

After obtaining an Masters Degree in Business Administration at Notre Dame, and a Masters of Arts in Theology, Miller feels suited to a career in agriculture, “I will be working on the financial and administrative aspects of the family business, but it gives me such joy to walk through the family vineyards, enjoy the wines of our clients and the greater Central Coast, and to live in Santa Barbara. I already feel like I’m immersed in the wine industry and it’s a great feeling.”

Miller continues, “I have a diverse educational background; my MBA will hopefully allow me to contribute to our family’s various business holdings, while my background in theology helps to me embrace the sheer poetry of wine, as it’s expressed by nature’s bounty and man’s artistry.”

Beloved American Icon, Fess Parker, Passes Away

Santa Barbara County, CA – Actor, developer and vintner Fess E. Parker, Jr passed away today, March 18th, 2010, at his home in the Santa Ynez Valley. Mr. Parker was 85 years old.

Born in Fort Worth, TX and raised in San Angelo, Fess served in the United States Navy during WWII and then returned home to Texas to graduate from the University of Texas-Austin in 1950. He was honored as a distinguished alum of the university in 1969.

A desire to act took Fess to California in the early 50′s where hard work and great good fortune led him to be cast in Walt Disney’s “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier” co-starring the late Buddy Ebsen. While under personal contract to Walt Disney, Fess made numerous pictures for the studio including the prequel “Davy Crockett and the River Boat Pirates” as well as The Great Locomotive Chase” and “Smoky.”

A successful television career in the 1960′s followed with NBC’s long running “Daniel Boone” show co-starring his friend and neighbor Ed Ames.

The early 70′s found Fess eager to explore the business world as a real estate developer in Santa Barbara, CA. After successfully opening three high end mobile home parks the 360 room Fess Parker Doubletree Resort opened in 1985. It is one of the most successful hotels on the Santa Barbara waterfront. A 150 room luxury hotel is also in the final stages of planning on an adjacent piece of beach front property.

In 1989 Fess and his family turned an interest in fine wine into an adventure now 20 years in the making. The Fess Parker Winery is a highly regarded and popular destination on the Foxen Canyon wine trail in Los Olivos, CA. The family also farms over 300 acres of vineyard in the Santa Ynez valley. Creating a successful business with his family was one of Fess’ proudest achievements.

Fess and his wife Marcella celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January of 2010. Their son Eli and daughter Ashley, as well as 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild spent a great deal of time with Fess in his final months and weeks.

It should be said that Fess was always extremely grateful to his long time fans for their continued support and friendship over the years.