Vino Volo

Brie and prosciutto sandwich and an Aviary Vineyards chardonnay waiting for my flight. Wonderful service was cherry on top!

My flight was delayed, this place was closing the gates and they let me in to buy a bottle of the finest Merlot I’ve had in a long time! Super friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend!

I’m pretty much a fan of Vino Volo. I’ve even downloaded the loyalty app and I order a flight whenever there’s one at an airport I fly to… which is often. I fly a lot for work and personal.
On this particular day, I came into the Jax Airport Vino Volo. I sat down and ordered a flight and cured olives. I had planned to order at least another glass of wine and some food as well. I also asked my wait staff for the wifi code so I could do a little work while waiting for my flight. Never had a problem with other Vino Volo’s wifi, but this one I did. My phone and computer could detect the network, but not sign in. I asked my wait staff if she would mind resetting it and she told me rudely «no, I’m busy.» I looked confused and she reiterated her inability to do so. I looked around and saw only 12 people with 3 wait staff. Clearly, she was not that busy and even if she had been at that moment perhaps she could have done it when there were only 4 people there (which was the number of patrons when I left). She also did not bring my bill after I had asked for it. Had to ask another wait staff.
Unfortunate poor service from a wine bar I really like.

Good wine selection but overpriced food items. Then again this place is located in the airport terminal.

Nice addition to the JAX airport. It has wine, of course, either by the glass or the flight, and some nice accompaniments and small plates. I had the cheese plate, which was excellent and reasonably priced. I’ve finally found a nice place to sit and await my flight.

I never knew they were open at breakfast, but my friend is on a low carb diet and always gets the salmon on a salad. She had it both at BWI and here at Jacksonville, and this is the superior location. I brought a leftover brownie and the hostess recommended a Barbera that paired perfectly. Also, my friend’s salad actually had dollops of crab mix, and we discovered that she should have had that at every location instead of just crème fraîche. She had been short-​changed before! Anyway, hands down best place to hang out in the airport.

So worth the stop on the way to your flight. Have a delicious selection of wine flights to try wine as well as terrific service from knowledgeable staff. Appetizers were also terrific!

Super staff that knows their stuff and makes everyone feel welcome! I discovered Vino Volo a few years ago at JFK and was pleased to find the location in JAX. I have been going to this location on almost every visit to JAX because of the special flights and outstanding service by the entire staff. They are knowledgeable about the wines and make everyone feel at home!

Ive been making a habit of stopping here before my flights to get a flight of wine. You can get some good wines in the flights! Not a cheap place because you’re in an airport… no place is cheap in the airport. I actually like some of their food too! I prefer the chili most days. Its different and tasty even if it isn’t exactly fresh.

The following review was published under my byline in the Florida Times-​Union on Thursday, July 24, 2014. This is an original, unabridged version of that review.
Not so long ago, most airport concourses seemed to offer little more than shrink-​wrapped sandwiches and sodas, or overpriced «full-​service» fare, to frazzled travelers hunting pre-​flight bites.
These days, major airports give off less of a convenience store vibe and more that of a shopping mall. Merchants want to create calming oases far from flight delays and standby lines, in the hopes of relaxing nerves and wallets.
This trend’s touched down in the retooled terminal at Jacksonville International Airport. Especially for those who prefer to un-​wine.
JIA’s first-​ever wine bar, Vino Volo, opened to passengers in April on Concourse C. The bar, café and retail shop, which gets its name from «wine flight» in Italian, is the chain’s first Florida location and one of more than 35 in U.S. and Canadian airports.
Logistically, you can only get to Vino Volo if you’re a ticketed passenger since it’s after the security checkpoint. Once you do, you’ll find a smattering of barstools and tables for two in a light-​and-​bright dining room next to Gate C1.
Keep in mind, the first order of business here is wine, with vintages you won’t easily find in town that rotate monthly. Order a two– or three-​glass tasting flight or buy a full glass or bottle. I counted 85 bottles for retail sale, split among white, rosé, red, sparkling and dessert varietals ($ 19 – 150). For a $ 12 uncorking fee, you can start a bottle, wrap it up and take it with you. Check with your airline about in-​flight imbibing policies. You’ll also find monthly specials and discounts through Vino Volo’s loyalty program and smartphone app.
Vino Volo’s tasting flights unite vintages into rotating themes and are approximate 2-​ounce pours, or one-​third of a full glass. From BBQ Reds to Summer Whites and the highlighted Sunset in Sonoma ($ 13, featuring a sangiovese, chenin blanc and pinor noir), flights, like you, can go quickly.
Educating customers is a big deal here. With each taste comes a coaster sheet with full specs, including vineyard, year and flavor profile.
The five-​page menu does yield scant real estate to a collection of small bites, meats and cheeses, entrée-​style plates and sweets, too. Props to management for locally sourcing prepared dishes and sugary treats from Catering by Liz and Let Them Eat Cake, respectively.
We began with the Cured Olives ($ 3), six jumbo (warning) unpitted beauties in black, green and red. The Braised Pork Taco ($ 5) is a petite corn tortilla filled with South American-​spiced pork and cabbage slaw, sliced in two. You’d do well to use your lime wedge and a pinch of salt to punch up the pork flavor.
The Tuscan Chicken Sandwich ($ 9) is slightly more substantial and flavorful, with two focaccia wedges concealing slices of herb-​roasted chicken with red pepper aioli and a gherkin garnish. My friend was kind to share her Truffle Penne & Cheese ($ 10), the hands-​down showstopper on our table. The tube pasta was generously appointed with white cheddar, smoked Gouda, truffle oil and toasted bread crumbs.
We wound down (or was that wine-​d down?) with a Cheese Plate ($ 9) of Humboldt Fog, Camembert and Vermont White Cheddar artisan cuts, accompanied by fig jam and Marcona almonds. Two can share a petite flourless Chocolate Torte ($ 7), a rich, dense sphere of gooey goodness.
While you won’t find them on the menu, Vino Volo also stocks a limited beer supply. We found Intuition Ale labels and McKenzie’s Hard Cider in the cooler.
Vino Volo opens daily at 9 a.m., and on most days its flights take off well past the airport’s last departure of the day, until 9 p.m. Breeze by for a bite or a lesson in wineology before you reach the jetway.
Vino Volo
Jacksonville International Airport
Concourse C (post-​security; ticketed passengers only), near Gate C1
2400 Yankee Clipper Drive, Northside
(904) 741‑4877
Type of cuisine: Global cuisine/​small plates
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closes 8 p.m. Saturdays)
Credit cards: All major accepted
Bar service: Wine; limited beer selections
Children’s menu: No
Reservations accepted: No
Catering: No
Price range: Wines by the glass, $ 8 – 29; Flights, $ 8 – 20; Bottles, $ 19 – 150; Small plates, $ 7 – 15

Love that July is Sonoma Month. Tried a Sonoma flight and a glass of Russian River Chardonnay. Bought a bottle of Rose for 20%, which is their special for the month. Knowledgable and Friendly Staff. Have tried other vino vilo in other airports. Always impressed. I like that each taste comes with a coaster of notes and bottle prices.
Bag hooks and plugs under the bar are a plus!

Had the charcuterie plate this visit and a «worldly» Pinot noir flight. The board had Brie, blue, and cheddar cheeses, salami, ham, and prosciutto all accompanied by sliced bread, dried fruits, mustard, cornichons, and fig preserves. My only want was more bread as the 4 tiny slices weren’t quite enough. The wine was great and came with useful tasting notes– nice for someone like myself who is trying to learn about wine.