Wine, music and romance unite

Every summer the co-owners of Ibiza’s revered Italian fine dining restaurant return from unique fact-finding missions, looking for delicacies and deliciousness to add to the Can Domingo experience. While Chef Giuseppe Vivacqua spent time refining his skills at the Europe’s only Michelin starred vegetarian restaurant, the two front of house maestros Andrea Sanarica and Alessandro Barni Spadacini turned their focus to Italian wines and French Champagne. This year the pair were able to set their sights on expanding their wine list, thanks to an ingenuous mechanism that allows guests to enjoy a glass of wine without removing the cork from the bottle. “We have regulars who come just to see what we have brought back from Italy,” says Alessandro.” With the Coravin system, they can enjoy a high-quality wine without having to buy the whole bottle.”

An American medical inventor developed the Coravin system in 2013. The simple machine has the appearance of a fancy corkscrew. A medical grade needle is carefully inserted into the cork while a gas capsule is employed to help draw the wine into an internal canister. A lever gently releases the wine into the glass. The elasticity of the cork allows the tiny hole to reseal almost immediately, protecting the wine from oxidation, keeping it fresh and clean until the next glass is required. “Our clients love to try new wines,” adds Andrea. “This system means people can enjoy something they might not ordinarily order. They can treat themselves to a quality wine.” And because the Coravin allows the integrity of the wine to be maintained for longer, the Can Domingo team have been able to expand the wine list to include drops from Italy’s most exciting regions.

As well as a suggested list of 20 wines by the glass, diners are free to choose from any bottle on the menu, which includes drops from Piedmont, Alta Adige, Tuscany and other Italian regions plus a selection of Spanish and French wines. “At the moment, I like the 2015 Schweizer Pinot Noir from Alta Adige,” says Alessandro. “The 5 Stelle from Valtellina is also lovely.” When it comes to whites, he says the Terre Alte from Felluga is beautiful. “It’s the best region for white wine in Italy,” he explains. The team is clearly excited by the prospect of continuing to develop Can Domingo’s carefully curated cellar. The Coravin system is opening new opportunities to delve deep into wine culture. “We love to discover new wines ourselves, and to be able to bring that experience to our guests is a real pleasure,” says Andrea.

Can Domingo continue its role as Ibiza’s unofficial patron of jazz, blues and soul music in 2017. What better way to enjoy quality wines by the glass than accompanied by the honeyed tones of jazz? Until the end of August, the Can Domingo resident band takes to the terrace on Saturday nights from 9.30pm. Vocalist and Alessandro’s wife Chiara Croce serenades diners with a selection of classic jazz in the vein of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. Tuesdays from July sees the highly regarded Muriel Grossmann Quartet spread their cool tunes across the gardens. Muriel is a multi-talented saxophonist, singer and composer. With Radomir Milojkovic on guitar, Salvatore Licitra on the double bass and Uros Stamerkovic on drums, Muriel plays tracks from her latest album Momentum in addition to a selection from her eight previous releases.

The terraces and gardens of Can Domingo form one of the most romantic venues on the island. Andrea has lost count of the number of marriage proposals they have helped to arrange. There is something about the feeling of being tucked away in secret garden, sitting under the stars, listening to beautiful music, eating fine Italian cuisine and supping on the best wines available that bring out the romantic in all of us.