So you're looking for a nice glass of wine at the airport while you wait for your flight, or a few glasses of wine during a layover or other flight delay? Well, depending on where you are flying from, we may be able to put a glass of decent, if not excellent wine in your hand in no time. Airport Wine Bars are not as plentiful as airport brewpubs (which I am happy to say have proliferated quite rapidly) however, they are starting to become more prevalent. They are generally of two types: either providing a sampling of wines from around the country or world, such as Vino Volo, which also may feature some local offerings, or specializing in only local or regional wines, possibly operated by the winemakers themselves, such as the Yadkin Valley Wine Bar in the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. We have listed all the airport wine bars that we could find, as well as a few that are “in progress”, in alphabetical order by airport name with a couple of wine bars that have a presence at multiple airports listed at the end. Please let us know of any that we may have omitted.
Alphabetical Listing of Airport Wine Bars by Airport
Charlotte Douglass International Airport (CLT)
Yadkin Valley Wine Bar
Located on the D/E connector between the Harley Davidson Store and Destination Charlotte and Starbucks, just before the corridor to concourse E.
The Yadkin Valley Wine Bar offers sales and tastings of Wines from the Yadkin Valley Winegrowers Association (YVWA). Wines can be purchased by the bottle, by the taste or by the glass. When I visitied they also had tasting flights available, allowing you to put together your own wine flight of red, white or reserve wines. The price is quite reasonable compared with some of the other airport wine bars since this store is a promotional venue for the wineries themselves. The member winemakers and winery owners work a few days a month at the store. The prices for bottles are the same as if purchased elsewhere. Visitors can also obtain information on visiting the member wineries. Wineries represented are Hanover Park Vineyard, RagApple Lassie Vineyards, RayLen Vineyards, Round Peak Vineyards, Shelton Vineyards, Stony Knoll Vineyards, and Westbend Vineyards. A nice extra touch is a small monitor in the wine bar that lets you check on your flight status while you are enjoying your wine.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Vino Volo
Located in Terminal A
Dallas - Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW)
La Bodega Winery and Tasting Bar
Located at Terminal A Gate A15 and Terminal D Gate D14
La Bodega Winery and Tasting Bar is a quiet and relaxing place to spend time during a trip through DFW Airport. The atmosphere is a wine connoisseur's dream, complete with a grand selection of fine wines and decorative ornaments. Sit among the beautiful surroundings of grapevines and polished silver accessories while tasting a sample from the winery's large selection. Wine merchandise and accessories include delicate sterling silver and glass decorations that would compliment any living room and make charming gifts. Be sure to stop at La Bodega Winery when traveling through DFW Airport for a peaceful and enjoyable experience. (description from DFW website)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Vino Volo
Located at McNamara Terminal, on Concourse A by Gate A45
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Vino Volo
Located on Concourse C
El Paso International Airport (ELP)
El Paso Vineyards
Located on the Ground Floor, Inside La Placita
Featuring vintages of the Zin Valle Vineyards, this watering hole carries a full bar and selection of beers. Healthy salads, delicious sandwiches and sweet & salty snacks round out the menu. Wine connoisseurs will enjoy true tastes of the region through these superb spirits and soak up the enticing West Texas sunshine in the Wine Bar’s relaxing landside setting. (Description from HMSHost) (opened March 19, 2008)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Napa Valley Wine Bar
Located in Terminal 1, Gates 1-3, post security
Operated by Anton Airfoods. Presumably they feature Napa Valley wines, but it is impossible to tell since neither the JFK or Anton Airfoods websites offers any description of this place. Let's hope they put more effort into their wine selection than they do into their web presence! If you have been here, please share your experience with us!
Idlewild Wine Bar
Located in Terminal 1
Idlewild emulates a sidewalk cafe and offer wines from America's top producing regions, with an emphasis on Hudson Valley varietals. (HMSHost description)
Vino Volo
Located in Terminal 8, post security

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Cibo Bistro and Wine Bar
Located in the US Airways Terminal
Lambert – St. Louis International Airport (STL)
Missouri Wine Bar
(opening by early 2009)
Opening in the Main Terminal, Missouri Wine Bar will offer travelers the luxury of wine tasting at the airport. Local boutique vineyards and award-winning varietals will anchor the selection of tastings by the glass. Designed to complement the featured wines, the menu will include artisanal breads and salads of fresh greens, nuts, cheeses, olives and fruits. For those with an appetite, Missouri Wine Bar also will serve food from nearby Brioche Dorée Café. (description from HMSHost press release)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Cibo Bistro and Wine Bar
Located on Concourse A-west & Concourse B (also at New York's LaGuardia Airport and Washington's Reagan National Airport)
Upscale Italian bistro with 32 wines by the glass from around the world.
Cibo Bistro & Wine Bar, authentic Italian cuisine served fresh. A distinctly themed, upscale facility within the OTG portfolio. Guests experience Italy with our fresh pasta, perfectly seasoned meats and exquisite seafood, all professionally prepared. Our saute are further enhances your experience with an open view of your Cibo Chef!
Following in the tradition of a classic Italian trattoria our staff is thoroughly trained in the culinary arts. Assisting our patrons with entree selection and beverage is our pleasure. Our menu provides more than 32 select wine from around the globe in constant rotation. Served by the bottle or glass. (Description from parent company OTG website)
Vino Volo
Located on the B/C Connector
Portland International Airport (PDX)
The Rose City Cafe & Wine Bar
Located just inside the Portland International Airport on the Ticket Lobby Level, pre-security checkpoint.
All the time in the world or no time to waste. Rose City Café operates on your schedule. Have a minute? Sit back, relax and enjoy a selection from our upscale wine bar and service as warm as the surroundings. Savor our steaks, sandwiches, pasta and other specialties so delicious you'll lose an hour or two. In a bind? Order the freshest hand-rolled sushi and get moving. Where grab-and-go meets great little café. (Company description) The Rose City Cafe wine bar serves a selection of Oregon and Northwest fine wines.
Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Cibo Bistro and Wine Bar
Located in the National Hall, South (outside security)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Vino Volo
Located in Terminal A
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Vino Volo
Located in the Central Terminal Marketplace
Coming Soon, to an airport near you!
Palm Springs International Airport
According to the Desert Sun (mydesert.com), a seasonal wine bar will be coming to the airport in 2009.
Raleigh Durham International Airport
The Vintage North Carolina Wine Cellar Café (Terminal 2 opening Fall 2008? (phase 1) to 2011 (phase 2)) is a full service bar and restaurant showcasing wines from three of the state’s wineries: Biltmore Estate Winery, Childress Vineyards and Shelton Vineyards. The café's menu will also feature salads, sandwiches and desserts.
Multiple locations
Cibo Bistro and Wine Bar
At Philadelphia International Airport (PHI), New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Washington's Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Upscale Italian bistro with 32 wines by the glass from around the world.
Cibo Bistro & Wine Bar, authentic Italian cuisine served fresh. A distinctly themed, upscale facility within the OTG portfolio. Guests experience Italy with our fresh pasta, perfectly seasoned meats and exquisite seafood, all professionally prepared. Our saute are further enhances your experience with an open view of your Cibo Chef!
Following in the tradition of a classic Italian trattoria our staff is thoroughly trained in the culinary arts. Assisting our patrons with entree selection and beverage is our pleasure. Our menu provides more than 32 select wine from around the globe in constant rotation. Served by the bottle or glass. (Description from parent company OTG website)
Vino Volo
(read the full story at eXpect delaYs here: http://expectdelays.com/cblog/archives/343-Vino-Volo-Expands-National-High-End-Wine-Tasting-Concept-to-Detroit-Metropolitan-Airport.html)
Company description: Each Vino Volo store combines a cozy wine lounge and restaurant, a tasting bar, and a boutique wine retail area into a sophisticated, post-security retreat for air travelers. “Vino Volo is a completely new concept in wine retail and travel. We provide a unique wine tasting opportunity for air travelers looking for a place to spend their time before boarding,” said Doug Tomlinson, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vino Volo. “We have completely reinvented the pre-travel experience at the airport by offering our guests a comfortable refuge while allowing them to taste and buy extraordinary wines at all price points. We select what we think are the best wines in each price category and organize them into tasting flights.”
Vino Volo newest location is at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). This will add to the list of highly successful locations Vino Volo currently operates. Nationwide you can discover great wines at the Vino Volo in Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport’s (IAD) Concourse C, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s (SEA) Central Terminal Marketplace, Sacramento International Airport’s (SMF) Terminal A, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport’s (BWI) Terminal A, New York’s JFK International Airport’s (JFK) Terminal 8, and Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) B/C Connector.
Not Really A Wine Bar, but ....
Newark International Airport
Gallagher's Steakhouse
On the Concourse to Gates C120 - C139
While not a wine bar, rumor has it that this airport version of the famed New York steakhouse has a decent wine list, including wines by the glass. (http://www.foodandwine.com/blogs/tasting-room/2007/6/29/The-Wines-of-Newark-Airport)
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I hope this article will help you find a decent glass of wine at the airport on your next layover. Please let us know your experiences at any of these establishments, as well as any airport wine bars that we may have omitted.
Remember - if you eXpect delaYs you can beat them! (or you can at least have a decent glass of wine to make your delay more tolerable ;-) )
Happy travels!
-Gus




