10 Wineries You Can Visit During a Long Layover
The eternal question of what to do during a long layover — or when you're suddenly faced with a cancellation or unanticipated free time before a scheduled return flight — may just have a refreshing solution: go and spend some time at a great winery near the airport.
Below, you'll find a list of 10 such wineries, all located within an hour's drive of several major US and international airports during. All the usual cautions should be observed — make sure you plan your trip in advance, reconfirm appointments and provide a suitable cushion for traffic delays, just in case.
Consider taking a taxi or using Uber or Lyft to get a ride to the winery and back to the airport — it'll be quicker, though probably a bit more expensive, than renting a car. Two of the wineries — which can be accessed by train and water taxi, respectively — will also be a little more expensive to get to and likely take additional time, but even they are doable with a long layover and adequate planning. Boy voyage and salud!
1. San Francisco (SFO)
Winery: Ridge Vineyards
Location: 17100 Monte Bello Road, Cupertino, CA (408-867-3233)
Distance from Airport: 38 miles, 53 minutes in normal traffic
Hours of Operation: Weekdays, by appointment only; 11:00am–5pm on weekends
Since he took over in 1969 as winemaker, Paul Draper has made this mountaintop winery famous for its Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvignons.
2. Rome (FCO)
Winery: Tenuta di Fiorano and Fattoria di Fiorano
Location: Tenuta di Fiorano: Via di Fioranella, 19-31, Rome (39-06-79340093); Fattoria di Fiorano: Via di Fioranello 34, Rome (39-06-79340114)
Distance from Airport: Each winery is about 20 miles, or about a 25-minute drive, from FCO
Hours of Operation: Contact each winery for hours and to make reservations
Fiorano is an historic wine estate on the southern outskirts of Rome which was split in two after the owner died — one (Fattoria di Fiorano) is run by the family, while the other (Tenuta di Fiorano) is run by their cousin. Both have continued the legacy of high-quality winemaking.
3. Washington, D.C. (IAD)
Winery: Boxwood Estate Winery
Location: 2042 Burrland Lane, Middleburg, VA (540-687-8778)
Distance from Airport: 25 miles, or about a 45-minute drive from IAD
Hours of Operation: Summer hours are 11:00am–6:00pm, Thursday through Sunday
Boxwood Estate Winery is located in Virginia's horse-farm country and owned by the same Cooke family that once owned the NFL Washington Redskins. It retains as consultant legendary French winemaker Stephane Derenencourt.
4. Paris (CDG)
Winery: G.H. Mumm
Location: 34 rue du Champs de Mars, Reims (03 26 49 59 70)
Distance from Airport: TGV trains can get from CDG to Champagne-Ardennes in as little as 20 minutes, with a brief transfer by local train or taxi to downtown Reims — Mumm is located a few blocks from the Gare de Reims. Be sure to check the returning train schedule to make sure there is sufficient time to get back to the airport.
Hours of Operation: 9:30am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 6:00pm daily March through October. 9:30am to 12:00pm and 2:00pm to 6:00pm Monday to Saturday from November through December
At eight million bottles a year, Mumm is one of the largest Champagne houses in the world, and its Cordon Rouge is one of the largest-selling bubblies in the U.S. In addition to the tour, its museum is also worth a stop.
5. Venice (VCE)
Winery: Venissa
Location: F.ta S. Caterina 3, Mazzorbo Island (39 041 52 72 281)
Distance from Airport: About a 25-minute ride by vaporetto (water taxi) from the dock adjacent to the airport
Hours of Operation: By reservation only
The only commercial vineyard in the Venetian Lagoon, Venissa also operates an adjacent restaurant, which serves the rare wine, as well as a small hotel. The wine is made from the golden dorano grapes planted by the Bisol family of Prosecco fame.
6. Auckland, New Zealand (AKL)
Winery: Kumeu River
Location: 550 State Highway 16, Kumeu (64 9 412 8415)
Distance from Airport: 25 miles, or about a 37-minute drive from AKL
Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday 9:30am–4:30pm; Saturday 11:00am to 4:30pm; closed Sundays and between Dec. 25, 2016, and Jan. 5, 2017
Owned by the Brajkovich family, Kumeu River Chardonnays are often cited as the best in New Zealand by critics such as Neal Martin and Harvey Steiman.
7. Frankfurt (FRA)
Winery: Weingut Kunstler
Location: Geheimrat-Hummel-Platz 1a, 65239 Hochheim am Main, Germany (49 6146-83860)
Distance from Airport: 17 miles, or about a 20-minute drive from FRA
Hours of Operation: Weekdays from 8:00am to 6:00pm (except between noon and 1:00pm); Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Sunday from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Closed Sundays from January to Easter
The Kunstler family has been making wine since 1648 — at Hochheim since 1965 — and has a reputation for producing some of the best Rieslings in the Rheingau.
8. Barcelona (BCN)
Winery: Cavas Freixenet
Location: Joan Sala 2, 08770 Sant Sadurní d'Anoia (34 938 91 70 00)
Distance from Airport: 30 miles, or about a 35-minute drive from BCN
Hours of Operation: Daily by reservation.
In addition to the ubiquitous Cordon Negro, Freixenet also makes some of the best Cava in Spain. While you're there, explore its historic caves, once used as bomb shelters for the residents of Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War.
9. Athens (ATH)
Winery: Papagiannakos
Location: Pousi – Kalogeri, 19 003 Markopoulo, Mesogaia, Attica (30 22990-25206)
Distance from Airport: Nine miles, or about a 20-minute drive from ATH
Hours of Operation: Monday–Saturday 9:00am to 4:00pm; Sunday, by appointment only.
Attica was one of the haunts of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, and Papagiannakos honors the tradition by making old fashioned wines in a modern winery. It's the closest of the airport wineries, within sight of the control tower.
10. Santiago, Chile (SCL)
Winery: Odfjell Vineyards
Location: Camino Viejo a Valparaiso 7.00 — Padre Hurtado, Santiago (56-2-28762800)
Distance from Airport: 18 miles, or about a 25-minute drive from SCL
Hours of Operation: Monday through Saturday, by appointment only.
Odfjell was founded 25 years ago in the Maipo Valley by a Norwegian shipping magnate of the same name. Its estate Cabernet Sauvignons and Carignans get consistently high ratings.
Have you been to any of these wineries? Tell us about your experience, below.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.