It is hard to pick a favorite season in the Napa Valley, but it might be Spring for me. The hills are still green from our winter rain, the vines are starting to come back to life after bud break, and the poppies and wildflowers are blooming around the valley. In addition to the beauty of Spring, we also have some of our best weather! With highs hovering in the mid-70s and lows in the low 50s, it is the perfect wine drinking weather. On a particularly perfect Friday, my two friends and I headed over to Chandon to experience their new Cabana wine tasting experience. It did not disappoint! 

Arriving at Chandon, the first thing you notice is how safe it feels. We are greeted by our hosts in the lobby and escorted upstairs to the tasting areas. All wine tastings at Chandon are now reservation only. They have lots of different options for you to choose from, but you MUST make a reservation before arriving. The Cabanas are located outside the main tasting room.

The area is simply breathtaking. Ancient oak trees dot the expansive lawn, and there is a view across the valley. Chandon has two Cabana’s, reservations are available twice a day for the experience. You need a minimum of six people to enjoy the Cabana experience, and they can comfortably seat ten people. The Cabana’s are complete with a comfy couch, lounge chairs, and cute stools shaped like corks. The three of us quickly settled in the Cabana and got ready to enjoy a great experience. 

The Cabana experience comes with two bottles of Chandon’s premier wine and a lunch prepared by their in-house winery chef. At the start, we enjoyed the étoile Brut. The Brut is crisp with the tiniest bubbles you have ever seen! Made from the best lots of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Muenier, étoile Brut, is aged for an extended period of time, giving a distinct elegance among Sparkling Wines.

Next up was the étoile Rosé. I am a big fan of anything sparkling and Rosé, but Chandon’s étoile Rosé is one of my absolute favorites. The Rosé has layers of raspberry, strawberry, and nutmeg. It is the perfect wine to be drinking in a Cabana! 

Now let’s talk about the food. The Cabana experience comes with a full lunch, so come hungry! First up, was a beautiful selection of local cheeses, fruits, and nuts with homemade bread. Next up were two beautiful salads. One grain salad that was nice and light and a green salad complete with pickled red peppers and pickled onions. For our main course, we were treated to some delicious shrimp skewers. The garlicky shrimp paired perfectly with the étoile Rosé.

If you are looking for a new way to experience wine tasting in the Napa Valley, I cannot recommend Chandon and the Cabana Experience enough! It is truly a one-of-a-kind experience in the Napa Valley. 

Chandon
Cabana Experience
6 – 10 people
$125 per person
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