Passion for their vineyards, an inherent love of the environment and a desire to consistently produce exquisite wines are the drivers for Domenic and Ally Mondillo whose cellar door, set in the majestic and rugged Bendigo Station, is one of the region’s best kept secrets.

Domenic’s Italian heritage is steeped in many generations of cooking great food and making superb wine. Enjoying strong family traditions and values, his Italian Grandfather taught him the secrets of making fine wine in the cellar amongst the home-made preserves, prosciutto and Italian cheeses. Domenic learned the art of drinking wine at his grandfather’s table fuelling his taste at an early age for combining, and pairing wine and food. With a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island USA, Domenic moved to New Zealand in 1981 and made his culinary mark in Queenstown as the owner and executive chef of two multi award-winning restaurants, before being enticed full time into the world of wine in 1992. Achieving Viticulture and Oenology qualifications Domenic has been instrumental in designing and developing vineyards throughout Central Otago for the past 30 years.

Domenic, and his New Zealand wife Ally, established their own vineyard at Bendigo in 2001. Jane Skilton MW wrote back in 2006 that “fruit grown in Bendigo, a hot sub region overlooking Lake Dunstan, seems to give wines extraordinary richness and power, this 2005 first release Mondillo Pinot Noir has an opulent, almost decadent quality. A very exciting Pinot Noir from a winery I shall be looking out for in the future.”  Since that review, Mondillo wines have gone on to be showcased by the US Sommelier Journal, Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, US Burghound.com, Len Evans Foundation Australia, Global Fairness Initiative US and Air New Zealand along with Champion Wine of the Show Trophy, Champion Pinot Noir Trophy plus fabulous wine reviews and accolades each vintage; something Mondillo is very proud of.

Mondillo portfolio includes Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rosé the Limited Edition Bella Reserve Pinot Noir and Late Harvest Nina wines. Enjoy – Saluté