Preheat oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; sauté 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Spoon onions into the bottom of a large roasting pan; add brisket, fat side up. Pour wine over meat, cover, and bake 30 minutes.

Combine soup mix, tomato paste, brown sugar, and water in a small bowl; pour over meat. Arrange carrots, parsnips, apricots, and prunes around meat.

Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake two and half to three hours, covered, or until brisket is very tender.

Remove from oven and let stand 20 minutes. Remove brisket from pan and slice thinly across the grain. Arrange meat sliced on a platter; spoon fruit and vegetables around brisket.

Skim fat from pan drippings and spoon sauce over meat; sprinkle with parsley.