VINE, SEA, SMOKE - a Sicilian wine dinner by Spiga & Dhall & Nash
Join us for a memorable evening at Spiga with menu inspired by Sicily’s volcanic soul — where sea and smoke meet in perfect harmony.
Each dish is paired with the uncompromising purity of Frank Cornelissen, a visionary of Mount Etna whose wines express nature in its rawest form.
Tasting Line-up:
- Frank Cornelissen Susucaru Rosato 2022
With: Sarde "Beccafico" Sardines, raisins, orange zest & aromatic bread - Frank Cornelissen Munjebel Bianco 2020
With: Swordfish "Sando", Sicilian pesto & aubergine - Frank Cornelissen Munjebel Rosso 2021 and
- Frank Cornelissen Munjebel "MC" Monte Colla Rosso 2019
With Paccheri "Pastificio Mancini", tuna tartare & seafood sauce - Frank Cornelissen 'Magma' 2020
With Lamb loin, black pudding, red currants, panelle & jus - Limoncello
With Almond treats & candied oranges
Frank Cornelissen
Few winemakers have redefined a landscape like Frank Cornelissen has on Mount Etna. Once a Belgian wine trader, he saw in Sicily’s brooding volcano not danger, but possibility — a place where vines could speak for themselves, free from dogma or interference.
Cornelissen’s vineyards cling to Etna’s black, mineral-rich slopes, where bush-trained alberello vines yield meagre yet intensely expressive fruit. Each bunch is meticulously trimmed by hand, the sacrifice of quantity for clarity. His approach rejects every orthodoxy — no chemicals, no biodynamics, no oak — just nature left to its own rhythm.
Fermentation and ageing unfold in inert epoxy-lined vessels, chosen to eliminate even the whisper of external flavour. The result is wine stripped bare of artifice, charged with volcanic tension and uncompromising precision. In a world obsessed with intervention, Cornelissen offers something radical: purity, unfiltered.
If you'd like to learn more, we’ve blogged extensively about this humble icon before, which you can read here:
- May 2024: New Vintage, New Hotness
- Oct 2023: New Year, New Frank
- May 2023: Red Hot ‘n’ Smokin’
- May 2020: Too HOT to Handle
Spiga
SPIGA; Italian [Feminine Noun]
Ear of wheat, Botanical.
The part of the cereal which contains the seed.
"Small restaurant that delivers big feelings. Tucked in Remuera’s fantastic 1050 precinct, Spiga is a hidden trattoria that delivers Italian authenticity with handcrafted flair. Nestled down a quiet laneway in Remuera, this intimate space offers house-made pasta, Roman-style pizza, and seasonal antipasti using regional ingredients.
The design is rustic-chic, with exposed brick, timber accents, and a softly glowing open kitchen. A concise Italian wine list complements the menu, while the relaxed service and multi-course sharing approach feel like home without the nosy aunt. Spiga is where casual elegance and honest cooking intersect beautifully."
- Denizen Dining Guide
