Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard Continues Its Evolution with Three New Promotions

LOS OLIVOS, CA —June, 2007— Now only a few years from its twentieth anniversary, the family and staff at Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard continues to grow and evolve. This month, the Winery is pleased to announce the promotions of three team members: Armando Telles, Larry Schaffer and David Potter.

After eight years as Production Manager, Armando Telles is moving up to the position of Operations Manager for the winery’s upgraded facility launched in 2005, the Santa Maria Wine Center. In his new role, Armando will be responsible for overseeing the facility, managing bottling and harvest schedules, interfacing with outside clients who use the facility, and improving its overall efficiency. Armando will also lead development of new business opportunities.

Having overseen the lab work at Fess Parker Winery for the past two years as enologist, Larry Schaffer has been promoted to the position of Assistant Winemaker. In his new role, Larry will continue to oversee all lab activities and will take on expanded responsibilities assisting Head Winemaker Blair Fox.

David Potter has worked at a number of world-class wineries across two hemispheres and three continents – including a stint as winemaking intern at Fess Parker in 2005. With experience managing large-scale modern operations for Foster’s Wine Estates in Australia and consulting for a small, ultra-premium, traditional French winery like Château de Montfaucon in the Côtes du Rhône, David brings his well-traveled winemaking experience back to Fess Parker Winery as Assistant Winemaker.

Even as it grows, Fess Parker Winery remains a tight-knit operation committed to the professional growth of their employees and the Parkers look forward to seeing Armando, Larry and David's continued contributions in their new roles.


About Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard

When Fess Parker was cast in the role of Davy Crockett in the mid-1950’s, it caused an international sensation and changed his life forever. So too the purchase of 714 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley changed the course of the Parker family’s history.

Realizing the potential of Santa Barbara County as a premium grape growing region, Fess and his son Eli Parker originally set out in 1989 to plant a small vineyard and sell the fruit to local producers. The Fess Parker Winery subsequently expanded from its initial 5-acre home property to over 600 acres in several key vineyards throughout the Santa Barbara County area including Santa Rita Hills, and Santa Ynez Valley.

With son Eli (named the 2006 Andre Tchelistcheff Winemaker of the Year by the San Francisco International Wine Competition) as President and Director of Winemaking and Vineyard Operations, daughter Ashley as Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales, and his son-in-law Tim Snider as the winery’s General Manager and Vice President of Sales, Fess Parker Winery is a close, family-run enterprise. The presence of Fess and Marcy as the founding visionaries of the Fess Parker Winery is an enduring and important one. By providing upscale accommodations, fine dining and award-winning wines, the Parker family's dream of a world-class wine country experience in Santa Barbara County is now a reality.

For press information, visit http://www.charlescomm.com/clients/fess_parker.html or call Kimberly Charles or Amelia Weir at Charles Communications Associates at 415-701-9463.

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