Tuscandido Winery specializes in Italian varietals, producing wines that have won several San Diego County Fair Gold Medals. Most recently, its Sangiovese won the prestigious Double Gold at this years' California State Fair. Jim Tondelli is the owner, farmer and winemaker of Tuscandido Winery.

The story of Tuscandido Winery, per Jim:

As an Italian and lover of fine wine, I wanted to make a wine that was reminiscent of the European style of wine making. A wine that is elegant with bright acid, soft fruit notes and a true reflection of the varietal grown.

Wine is not made in the barrel. it is made in the vineyard. We take great care to ensure that from start to finish there is a quality grape produced. We harvest by hand getting rid of any small or unwanted grapes and thinning the clusters early to allow for maximum concentration of fruit and natural sugars. We use sustainable farming methods making sure what is taken from the vineyard is put back. No chemicals or pesticides are used in our vineyard. Instead, we use our alpacas for weed control and they provide us with rich, organic, natural fertilizer.

The story of Tuscandido Winery, per his loving family:

A decade ago, James Tondelli, uncle to two BMI students, purchased five acres of hardscrabble earth in Escondido, CA. After two years of hard labor and absorbing every morsel of viticulture, the Tondelli family bore witness to the first shoots of Sangiovese, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Montepulciano, Barbera, and Syrah. While these vines took root and matured, James turned his sights to the northern end of the vineyard and constructed the edifice that would house himself plus the crushing, fermenting, and tasting rooms.

The Tuscandido 2013 Merlot offering is 87% Merlot and 13% Montepulciano. The resulting soft fruit and blackberry notes make this the perfect wine to enjoy with your best company.

Bid to get your bottle(s) of Tuscandido Winery's 2013 Merlot!