Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Fess Elisha Parker Iii |
| Also known as | Eli Parker |
| Parents | Fess Elisha Parker Jr., Marcella Belle Rinehart |
| Sibling(s) | Ashley Allen Rinehart (Ashley Parker Snider) |
| Children / Next generation | Kristopher Parker, Amanda Parker White, Katie Parker McDonald, Olivia Parker and other grandchildren |
| Primary occupation | Winemaker, vineyard director, family business steward |
| Family business | Fess Parker Winery and family hospitality portfolio |
| Founding of winery | 1989 (family winery established) |
| Ranch acquisition | Foxen Canyon ranch purchase about 1988 |
| Estate size (reported) | Approximately 714 acres |
| Annual production (approximate) | About 60,000 to 70,000 cases across family labels |
Biography
A record of soil, barrel, and family stewardship is Eli’s life. He is officially recognized as the family estate’s director of winemaking and vineyard operations. Labels like Epiphany and unique glittering programs were added to the portfolio under the Parker umbrella. Across all of its labels, the vineyard produces between 60,000 and 70,000 cases annually, which is about equivalent to a medium-sized business footprint with boutique attention.
Achievements are more about consistency than they are about awards. Over the course of three decades, the family has managed to maintain a multi-asset portfolio that includes event spaces, a Wine Country Inn, and tasting rooms. The family celebrated milestones and branched forth into initiatives like small-lot label releases and Napa alliances. In interviews and media appearances, Eli is portrayed as a steward of the trade who turns a father’s vision into bottle runs and vineyard maps.
Family and Personal Relationships
Family can be a chorus or a choir of soloists; for the Parkers it is both. The household roster reads like a small company of roles folded into kinship.
Fess Elisha Parker Jr. (father)
Fess Parker Jr. was the actor who built a second life as a vintner and ranch steward. He bought the Foxen Canyon property near Santa Barbara and founded the winery in 1989, shifting family identity from screen to soil.
Marcella Belle Rinehart (mother)
Marcella, sometimes called Marcy, partnered in the family life that nurtured the business. Her presence shaped the household and the hospitality culture that the enterprise projects.
Ashley Allen Rinehart / Ashley Parker Snider (sister)
Ashley serves alongside Eli as a co-steward of the family portfolio. She and her husband Tim Snider are involved in leadership and operations, helping run tasting rooms and business strategy.
Kristopher Parker (son)
Kristopher, sometimes called Kris, represents the third generation branching into adjacent businesses, founding a craft brewing venture and participating in family enterprise activities.
Amanda Parker White (daughter)
Amanda holds a hospitality leadership role as general manager of the Wine Country Inn and is a visible figure in day-to-day guest operations.
Katie Parker McDonald (daughter)
Katie is associated with ranch operations and guest experiences, contributing to agro-tourism and estate programs.
Olivia Parker (daughter)
Olivia appears in family timelines and events, part of the generation maintaining the Parker presence across wine and hospitality.
Other grandchildren and third generation family members appear in staffing, marketing, and visitor-facing roles, creating a multi-layered family business where lineage and labor blend.
Career, Achievements, and Work Highlights
Eli’s life is a record of his stewardship of soil, barrels, and family. He is officially recognized as the family estate’s director of winemaking and vineyard operations. The portfolio was enlarged under the Parker umbrella by labels including Epiphany and unique glittering programs. In general, the vineyard produces between 60,000 and 70,000 cases annually under its several brands, which indicates a medium-sized business presence with boutique attention to detail.
Achievements are more about continuity than they are about awards. It is an accomplishment in and of itself to have managed a multi-asset family portfolio for thirty years, which includes event spaces, a Wine Country Inn, and tasting rooms. The family celebrated milestones and branched out into initiatives like small-lot label launches and relationships with Napa. Eli is portrayed in interviews and media appearances as a steward of craft who turns a father’s vision into bottle runs and vineyard maps.
Financial and Business Scale
Money in the Parkers’ world reads as enterprise scale rather than public net worth. The assets include a 714 acre estate, multiple hospitality venues, and wine labels producing tens of thousands of cases annually. These are private holdings, so precise personal net-worth figures are not publicly documented. The business size and production numbers indicate a substantial family operation anchored in regional wine industry metrics.
Recent Mentions and Public Presence
In recent years the family has continued to be visible in trade coverage and local press, often for anniversaries, label milestones, and the growing presence of third generation family members. Social platforms tied to the family and the business show active promotion of events, releases, and hospitality offerings. The narrative orbit now includes grandchildren who run breweries, manage inns, and tend vineyards, keeping the Parker name in public view without relying on celebrity theatrics.
Extended Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1960 | Fess Parker and Marcella Belle Rinehart marry on January 18, establishing the family unit. |
| 1988 | Family acquires Foxen Canyon ranch property near Santa Barbara. |
| 1989 | Fess Parker Winery is launched; wine production begins. |
| 1990s | Eli emerges publicly as the family’s winemaker and vineyard steward. |
| Late 1990s | Epiphany label introduced and other small-lot projects begin. |
| 2016 | Third generation ventures, including craft brewing by Kristopher Parker, expand family entrepreneurship. |
| 2019 | Family marks the winery’s 30th anniversary and integrates more grandchildren into operations. |
| 2020s | Continued label anniversaries, hospitality activity, and third generation leadership become prominent features of the family portfolio. |
FAQ
Who is Fess Elisha Parker Iii?
Fess Elisha Parker Iii, often called Eli, is a winemaker and vineyard director who helps lead the family-owned wine and hospitality portfolio founded by his father.
What is his primary role?
He primarily oversees winemaking and vineyard operations and serves as a steward of multi-generational family enterprises.
Who are his parents?
His parents are actor and vintner Fess Elisha Parker Jr. and Marcella Belle Rinehart.
Does he have siblings?
Yes, his sister is Ashley Allen Rinehart, also known publicly as Ashley Parker Snider, who works in family leadership roles.
Who are his children?
Named children include Kristopher Parker, Amanda Parker White, Katie Parker McDonald, and Olivia Parker among other grandchildren involved in the family business.
What is the scale of the family business?
The family estate spans roughly 714 acres and the family labels produce on the order of 60,000 to 70,000 cases annually across brands.
Is his personal net worth public?
No, there is no verified public figure for his personal net worth, as the family businesses are privately held.
Where is the family estate located?
The estate and winery are located in the Foxen Canyon area of Santa Barbara County, where the family has operated since the late 1980s.
