What a marvelous idea! If you’re as tired as I am of noisy, smelly sports bars, the usual fare in airports, and the lousy, rot-gut wine they generally serve, then this new diversion is just for you.

On a recent trip to Florida we happened to have a couple hours lay-over at the Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina. As we ambled through the shopping area killing time, we chanced upon the delightful Yadkin Valley Wine Bar. There, for only $5, you could sample four of the 16 or so selections being offered that day; and if you found one you liked, could have an ample glassful for only $7. A much better alternative to the often-stale and oxidized jug wines found in most airport bars.

The Yadkin Valley, an area north of Charlotte, was the first viticultural area designed in North Carolina, and is bordered to the west by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The river valley has the unique blend of climate and soil so necessary to produce world-class wines. There are 20-some wineries in this area, producing a variety of wines. Many were available for tasting at the Yadkin Valley Wine Bar at the Charlotte airport. And taste I did!

The selections I chose for the first flight of wine to taste were: Westbend Vineyards 2006 Viognier, a grape variety grown extensively in Virginia but also producing a soft, aromatic and peachy wine here in North Carolina; RayLen Vineyards 2005 Barrel-fermented Chardonnay, a nice example of the Eastern style Chardonnay; Shelton Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, a lighter style Cab but with a nice light oaky aroma; and the Ray-Len Vineyards red wine blend called Category 5, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Petit Verdot — delightful. I was also impressed by the RagApple Lassie Vineyards Pinot Gris, the Hanover Park Vineyards Mourvedre, Round Park Vineyards Sangiovese and the Stony Knoll Vineyards Chambourcin. We also had a short layover in Charlotte on the way back.

As I talked with the Wine Bar manager, I learned that wine tasting bars are the coming thing in airports all over the country. Some are like Yadkin Valley in Charlotte, operated locally and featuring local wines, and he cited the Rose City Wine Bar at the Portland, Oregon, airport and the La Bodega Winery at Dallas/ Ft. Worth as other examples.

Others are the product of a new entrepreneurial group called Taste Inc., who have begun opening a series of small, intimate wine bars in major airports under the name of Vino Volo (Italian for “wine flight”). You’ll find them at Seattle, New York JFK, Sacramento, Washington Dulles and this year planning to open in Philadelphia and Detroit (yes, Detroit!). They plan to have 50 in the next five years. The Vino Volo wine bars also feature a menu of small plates to accompany their international assortment of wines.

And, the marvelous thing about these wine bars is that since you’re already through security, you can buy wine by the bottle and take it on the plane. Makes taking a gift to the friends you’re visiting a snap.

So, if you end up with a bit of time to kill at an airport between flights, check the shopping directory to see if that airport has a wine tasting bar. I can’t think of a better way to spend a little time, tasting new wines and learning about new wine regions. By all means, if you’re ever at the Charlotte airport, check out Yadkin Valley wines.

Dave Ethridge is a nationally known wine writer, certified wine judge, and the Director of the Lapeer Chapter of Tasters Guild International.

More Tips