10 Airport Wine Bars Worthy of a Toast
Before heading to the gate, enjoy a relaxing glassful as you’re on the go
By Lisa Rogak
A new trend is appearing in airport terminals that adds a bit of delicious civility as air travel becomes more daunting on and off the ground.
Airport wine bars have become a popular, much-cherished refuge from the typically sterile terminal environment, and several new ones pop up each year. Some showcase local, little-known wines, and others impart an international flair. As for the food, a few wine bars offer full menus while others provide small plates or tapas, and the food tends to be a cut above typical airport fare since it is prepared to complement the wine list.
All of our 10 choices are located behind security checkpoints, so if you want to buy a few bottles to pack into your carry-on bags, you don’t have to worry about exceeding your 3-ounce liquid limits. Whether you choose one wine to taste or a flight of three small samples of similar vintages to compare, one thing’s for sure: These flights give traveling oenophiles a welcome oasis.
1. Vino Volo (Italian for wine flight) is the first upscale airport wine bar that’s on its way to becoming a chain. Vino Volo operates in airports in Baltimore, Seattle and Sacramento, and at JFK and Dulles international airports. Plans are afoot to open Vino Volos in Philadelphia and Detroit by summer. Its tasty, small plates include artisanal cheeses and duck confit.
2. Try a Southern accent as you broaden your wine horizons. The Yadkin Valley Wine Bar at Charlotte Douglas International Airport features wines from nine North Carolina vineyards.
3. Cibo Bistro & Wine Bar has outposts at Philadelphia International, New York’s LaGuardia and Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.; each offers a first-class list of 32 wines by the glass from California, Italy, Argentina, Australia and France, along with a menu of Italian favorites.
4. The Rose City Café & Wine Bar at Portland International Airport features wines of the Pacific Northwest and a sushi bar. Sit at the bar or grab a bottle and some Japanese delicacies for the plane.
5. They make wine in Texas? Part 1: Visit the wine-tasting rooms at either of the two La Bodega Winery outlets in Terminals A and D at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
6. They make wine in Texas? Part 2: Wines from the local Zin Valle Vineyard are favorite pours at the El Paso Vineyards wine bar in El Paso International Airport.
7. In addition to Vino Volo, wine fans have more choices at JFK. In Terminal 1, the Idlewild Wine Bar features wines from the Hudson Valley north of the city.
8. JFK’s Terminal 1 also shows off some West Coast flavor with Napa Valley Wine Bar serving California vintages.
9. The Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome has not one but three Frescobaldi Wine Bars in Terminals A, B and C, making it a great way to prepare your palate if you’re continuing on to Tuscany.
10. At Bubbles seafood and wine bar in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, you can enjoy oysters and smoked salmon with a glass of fine Riesling or opt for a champagne breakfast, served day or night.
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