New Zealand wine’s latest wunderkind, Mondillo Vineyard in Central Otago, is expecting good things from its 2010 harvest.

Domenic and Ally Mondillo run a small and relatively new vineyard on 12 hectares of land at Bendigo and at the weekend picked up the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards’ Champion Wine of Show award with its 2008 Mondillo Central Otago Pinot Noir.

The  tiny Bendigo vineyard swept aside 1517 wines to take the 2010 trophy, and its competitors might have to worry about future vintages too.

“It’s been a hot and dry summer in Bendigo,” says Dominic, pictured right with a bottle of his 2008 pinot
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“The fruit is in great shape and tastes fantastic and we’re gearing up to start our harvest just after Easter.”

Mondillo’s multi trophy winning champion wine is currently being served on Air New Zealand international flights to business class passengers, is sold in top restaurants around Queenstown and in the USA including The French Laundry, and is served at some of the country’s best events by Ruth Pretty Catering.

Mondillo’s wines are made at Quartz Reef under the direction of Rudi Bauer, who was awarded the coveted title of Winemaker of the Year at the same event.

The Mondillos can now add the Champion Wine of Show trophy to a gold medal and the trophy for Champion Pinot Noir in the Easter Show wine awards, the country’s oldest and arguably most-respected wine competition.

“It is amazing for us to be recognised by the industry,” says Dominic Mondillo. “Mondillo wine is a true reflection of the hard work of our passionate vineyard crew and the team at Quartz Reef winery. To go into the 2010 harvest with these awards and trophies on the mantelpiece is just fantastic.”

Domenic Mondillo is a viticulturist and veteran of 29 vintages who has grown wine in Central Otago for the past 18 years, although he and wife and business partner Ally established Mondillo Vineyards on three sunny terraces at Bendigo just nine years ago.

The vineyard has produced six vintages, the first in 2004, each picking up awards and delivering a loyal global following.

The Mondillos believe site selection is critical to great wine and that their ‘extremely special’ 12 hectares in Bendigo combine with minimal human intervention to create beautiful wines. The 2009 vintage is due for release in June this year.