On my way home from Savannah yesterday, I had a U.S. Airways connection in Charlotte, NC. It was Friday evening after a very long week, so I decided to stop in at the wine bar opposite my gate. I was initially drawn to this spot because it was different than the typical sports bars in most airport terminals. However, when I sat down and requested the four-wine tasting (for the bargain price of $7), I realized that all of the wines were local to North Caroina's Yadkin Valley, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Who knew North Carolina even made wines?
It turns out that quite a wide variety of wines are made in this region. I tried a Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sanvgiovese, and another red meritage blend. I enjoyed the sweet, crisp flavor of the Riesling, which the bartender described as champagne without the bubbles. However, my favorite wine was the Round Peak Sangiovese, which had light cranberry fruit flavors and a smooth finish -- reminiscent of Pinot Noir. I purchased a bottle ($16) that we enjoyed with steak au poivre tonight. While this 2007 vintage is clearly still quite young, it was as pleasant and enjoyable the second time around.
I think the idea of a airport wine bar that exclusively serves wines from local producers is a great idea! What better way to expose travelers from all over the world to wines from an unknown region? I'd love to see these types of bars pop up at other airports, such as Toronto or JFK/LaGuardia. My only improvement would be to make the cheese plate a little more extensive. A few pieces of colby jack and a package of crackers was hardly worth the $5 price tag.
Next time you connect through Charlotte on US Air, definitely check out this wine bar!
