  We consider inflation driven by an axion-like particle coupled to an SU(2)
gauge sector via a Chern-Simons term. Known as chromo-natural inflation, this
scenario is in tension with CMB observations. In order to remedy this fact and
preserve both the symmetries and the intriguing gravitational wave
phenomenology exhibited by the model, we explore the non-minimal coupling of
the axion-inflaton to the Einstein tensor. We identify regions of parameter
space corresponding to a viable cosmology at CMB scales. We also highlight the
possibility of a large and chiral gravitational wave signal at small scales.
This is of particular interest for gravitational wave interferometers.
