When it comes to boozing it up at the airport, one is hard pressed to find a drink more exotic than Sam Adams or an atmosphere more appealing than a brightly lit bar fit with CNN-blaring TVs and a 70-year old bartender serving out of plastic cups. But Vino Volo has been changing all that. The airport wine bar chain debuted in 2005 at Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport and has since opened a number of locations around the country. Vino Volo (derived from “wine flight” in Italian) was so successful when it opened in the B/C Concourse of the Philadelphia International Airport in May 2008 that it opened a second Philly location at the D/E Connector.

Each location offers a hefty selection of wine that has been adapted for that specific city’s airport. In Philly, for example, Vino Volo has what they call “Brotherly Love Blends,” a few selections from the Pennsylvania wine region. Every wine is available by the taste, glass, bottle or — my personal favorite — the tasting flight, a few small pours of a variety of wines that trick you into thinking you are not actually getting buzzed. And being in an airport and all, why not take a flight? Each flight and glass of wine comes with a customized coaster that lists the bottle, vintage, description and flavor chart (dry, sweet, robust . . .).

There’s most likely been a huge spike in missed flights since Vino Volo came to town, a direct result of the bar’s comfortable “patio.” While the Design Within Reach umbrellas and outdoor furniture are a bit unnecessary, the place offers a nice, sophisticated retreat from the usual airport environment (no, you're not in South Beach). Add to that the option of ordering cheese plates (or the brie and prosciutto sandwich on a fresh baguette--for the same price as a greasy Burger King meal) and buying bottles of wine for the road (er, flight) and the PHL is starting to look really nice.

Delayed flight? Sign me up!

www.vinovolo.com