Shameless, the tricks winemakers will resort to just to make their product stand out on a crowded shelf. “Hey, I know! Let’s put a funny animal on the label! The rubes lap that stuff up!” “No, no – what we need to do is throw some cash at an actor or somebody, and put his name on the label! People will buy anything if a celebrity tells them to!”

But just as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone explored the untamed wilderness, Fess Parker – TV’s Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone – got there first. His Fess Parker Winery made its initial planting in 1989, when other celeb wineries were just a twinkle in their proprietors’ pampered eyes. After abdicating his throne as king of the wild frontier, Parker now reigns over an empire of some 300 acres of California vineyard, another 200 acres of leased plantings, and the tres upscale Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa. Three generations of the royal family help run Parker Winery. And hey, there’s Davy Crockett’s iconic raccoon, peering out from the label.

Square-jawed and straight-talking as ever, Fess doesn’t expect oenophiles to uncork his vinos based on star power alone. And he doesn’t need to, with a 2003 Parker Station Syrah like this. Its nose exhibits spice, blackberry, and dark cherry, with plum, toast, leather, and spice on the palate. Put one bottle on the rack and one in your saddlebag – this Syrah is full-bodied enough to stand up to a hearty stew cooked over an open campfire. Feel free to ignore our opinion, but Wine Enthusiast named it a "best value" without us even needing to bribe them.

The 2003 Parker Station Chardonnay proves that the rough-hewn frontiersman can play it delicate, too. Take a sniff and discover citrus, ripe apple, and pears, chased by notes of light toast, butter, and spice. Take a swig and roll those citrus, honey, tropical fruits, and butter flavors around on your tongue. Serve up a platter of fish, pork, or cream-based pasta for maxmimum Chardonnecstasy.

Before you go running off to buy this quartet, let’s not overlook the youngest kit in this litter of varmints, the 2005 Parker Station Pinot Noir. It’s every bit as earthy as the old frontier, but smells a lot more like cherry and spice. Hints of strawberry, leather, and light smoke march across the palate toward a smooth, lengthy finish. It’s a wild journey through a landscape of flavor, and you won’t have to “kill a bar” along the way.

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