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Anyone that knows me, knows that I am not a wine connoisseur. I do not pretend to be one, nor do I get excited at the prospect of a good wine. I am a cocktail girl through and through.
When my husband told me he had to go away to wine country for a work trip, I had to think a little bit about whether or not I wanted to join him or not, crazy right? Thus I began my research...
I was in Napa for three days. And while I did go and visit some wineries and vineyards, I feel as though I uncovered a true gem in my pursuit of searching for Napa's vibe-iest spot, enter......
Domaine Chandon
Domaine Chandon is a winery situated in Yountville, California, within the Napa Valley. Founded in 1973 by Moët et Chandon, and under the leadership of entrepreneur John Wright for more than two decades, it became the inaugural French-owned producer of sparkling wine in the Napa Valley.
Opening simultaneously with the winery, The Restaurant at Domaine Chandon is recognized for introducing top-notch dining to the region, (more on that later…)
The winery's vineyards are situated in various Napa Valley appellations, such as Los Carneros AVA, Mt. Veeder AVA, and Yountville AVA. Domaine Chandon produces both sparkling and still wines crafted from Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and Pinot Meunier, the classic grape varieties employed in Champagne production.
The company possesses sibling wineries situated in Mendoza, Argentina, the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia, Brazil, and Ningxia, China.
Food & Wine, an Epicurean Adventure
While I do not consider myself a wine connoisseur by any means, I will classify myself as a bit of a foodie. After having been in Napa for three days and going to more wine tastings than was probably necessary, I knew that I would be ready for some really good food by the end of our stay. Enter the five-course farm to table dining experience at Domaine Chandon.
After Drinking copious amounts of Cabernet, and Merlot wines paired with cheeses, and charcuterie, I was absolutely ready for some bubbles.
The service at Domaine Chandon was top notch and left nothing to be desired.
We were greeted upon arrival by a hostess, who checked us in, and directed us to the Concierge area where we would begin our experience.
After being greeted by our concierge, they directed us to our table, that was set up and waiting for us in the magnificent dining room, that looked out over the expansive gardens of the property.
Our host Jesus immediately welcomed us and went through the menu with us. We were to experience a five-course tasting menu, paired with Chandon wines.
Every course was more spectacular than the last, each dish was meticulously prepared, And the wine pairings brought out intricacies in the flavors of the food. I am not a meat-eater, so the chef was kind enough to prepare some halibut for me, while maintaining the original flavor profiles of the wagyu strip loin dish, so as to not deviate from the flavor profiles of the tasting menu.
Both my husband and I commented that this had been by far the best experience we have had in Napa. The property is absolutely magnificent, and they host a variety of tasting offerings, ranging from the basic Wine Tasting option for $77 per person, to the Culinary Journey option starting at $183 per person.
We had friends that visited the property the day prior, they were a large group and experienced the Garden Cabanas food and wine pairing for $207 per person.
Having been informed by a member of the group who visited the day before, I managed to make an "off the menu request". The Chandon Spritz Garden Tea highlights the similarities between wine and tea by offering a delightful, creative sparkling wine like nothing I had ever tried before! Cold brewed on-site for optimal harmony, the Garden Spritz Tea features an Earl Grey blend made with Darjeeling, Ceylon, and Assam teas infused with bergamot oil- simply delicious!
(I am currently placing an online order for it now!)
Things to know before you go
While most wineries and vineyards in Napa offer tours and tastings, they are focused on selling wines, you don't get that impression at Domaine Chandon. Domaine Chandon Focuses on the experience itself, which in my opinion makes it a must visit. They offered the largest variety of experiences that I have seen at any winery in Napa. They have a Sunday brunch option, a light bites lunch option, an oyster and blancs de blancs tasting, Multiple group tasting options available, and from August 18th to September 1st they have harvest tours available.
Domaine and Chandon have excellent facilities for accommodating large groups of up to 350 individuals. Whether you're planning a major corporate function, a bachelorette party, or even a wedding, they are more than willing to assist you in organizing an event that will be the remembered for a long time to come!
They have a special Members only club lounge area. The special tasting for their Club Chandon community explores members-only, off-list cuvées as well as the ultimate expressions in wines.
Reservations are required if you wish to do any of the food experiences. While the restaurant was not full by any means, we saw “walk-ins” being told that they could not be accommodated without a prior reservation. Walk-ins are able to visit the main lobby area of the building to do a basic tasting and walk the grounds. But in order to experience the food/bites/brunches etc. you MUST have a reservation.
The property underwent a huge renovation which took 3 years to complete, so unless you see a review posted online from within the last year, I’d take it with a grain of salt. Years ago, Chandon was the first American winery to receive a Michelin star, which the restaurant Étoile held from 2006-2012. There is not a whole lot out there online about the restaurant at Domaine Chandon, but from what I understand they have named the restaurant Chandon Home, and I would be shocked if they didn’t receive some sort of accolade in regard to their exceptional food sometime soon.
All of the food served in the restaurant is farm-to-table, most ingredients traveled a mere 15-60 miles, with the furthest distance produce traveled in preparation of our lunch being 620 miles- which was the wagyu from snake river farms.
Dress code is smart casual, most people are dressed up to take pictures, the surroundings are absolutely magnificent, and you would be remiss to not take the opportunity to snap some beautiful pictures. The grounds, although meandering through oak groves and the like are all paved and easily accessible.
They are child and dog friendly.
There you have it, in my opinion, Napa valley's vibe-iest spot! The perfect place to go with a large group, or just on a romantic lunch date with your partner.
If I ever find myself again exploring Napa Valley, I will be sure to visit this absolute gem again with great pleasure.
Fallon xo
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