Santa Barbara by the Glass

Elevated Experiences: Fess Parker Ramps UpWine-Inspired Offerings

The new Fess Parker Ranch Horseback Adventure offering takes guests on private or group guided rides across the estate (courtesy photo)

by Gabe Saglie

The Parkers have been busy.

The multi-generational enterprise behind a slew of visitor options across the Santa Ynez Valley is repositioning itself as a local leader in the arenas of wine and hospitality. “People these days who are investing to come visit our area – they do have higher expectations today than they used to,” says Ashley Parker Snider, daughter of Fess Parker, who leveraged his resumé as iconic actor and real estate investor to launch his eponymous wine country brand in the late 1980s. His heirs’ answer to demand from a new era of savvy travelers ranges from revamped wine-inspired experiences to reimagined destination locales.

Here’s a roundup!

Wine Tasting Upgrades

My kids still talk about the horseback riding experience we were treated to, a few years ago, across the Fess Parker Ranch. Katie Parker McDonald, Fess’ granddaughter, matched us with horses, outfitted us with gear and led us through a leisurely ride across the ranch’s 714-acre expanse – vines, oaks, rolling hills, and lounging cattle as far as the eye could see. Wide open nature at her finest.

Today, that experience is open to everyone. The new Fess Parker Ranch Horseback

SB by the Glass Page 334 accepted into the show as one of just 20 high schoolers in the entire country, with 40 total student competitors – 20 high schoolers and 20 post-secondary students. “I was honored to be chosen to compete, and I built a special crate to transport the chair to Las Vegas,” Zander told us during a visit to his shop earlier this week.

The show took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center last month, with the awards ceremony on July 27. Zander’s rocking chair took both first place in the seating category and was also the recipient of the competitive “People’s Choice Award.” The people’s choice award included winning a Pantorouter, valued at $2,400, for the winner’s school’s woodshop. Zander tells us his wood- shop teacher, Dos Pueblos Industrial Arts teacher Mr. Chris Mollkoy, has been extremely supportive, and attended the show in Las Vegas. “He was thrilled that I won!” Zander said, adding that his passion in woodworking has also been deeply supported by his parents and sister.

Zander is the first student in Santa Barbara history to qualify and compete in the Las Vegas show. He begins his senior year at DPHS next week, and tells us he plans on spending his free time completing the many commissions he is working on, which include tables, cutting boards, chess boards, and more.

To learn more about Zander and see his work, visit www.zanderswoodworks. com.

Fatal Accident on Highway 101 in Montecito

On Sunday August 13, at approximately 3:12 am, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) received a report of a traffic crash that had occurred on the southbound 101 freeway, north of Olive Mill Road where the three-lane highway merges to two lanes.

The accident involved two vehicles, a 2019 Toyota Camry and a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. The driver of the Camry, 22-year-old Ricki Newton of Port Hueneme, was later arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol and vehicular manslaughter; as a passenger in the Mountaineer, 77-yearold Louis Hernandez Jr. of Santa Paula, was ejected and fatally injured in the crash. The driver of the Mountaineer was transported to the hospital with moderate injuries; passengers in the Camry reported minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

The traffic crash caused a single lane closure of the highway, which reopened shortly before 9 am.

Any witnesses who might have seen the traffic crash are encouraged to contact the CHP Santa Barbara Area at (805) 967-1234.

Fire Ban

Remains in Effect

With hot temperatures continuing over the next week, Los Padres National Forest officials reminded visitors last week that an open fire ban remains in effect for the Santa Barbara front country while trail closures have been extended for the Old Romero Road (26W25), Romero Canyon Trail (26W14), and San Ysidro Trail (26W15 Singletrack)