Wayne County Airport Authority News

Vino Volo Expands National High-End Wine Tasting Concept to Detroit Metropolitan Airport

DETROIT, July 2 PRNewswire — A unique new airport concession concept recently landed at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport's (DTW's) award-winning McNamara Terminal. Vino Volo (derived from "wine flight" in Italian), a contemporary wine tasting room and retailer, opened for business this past week, near gate A-45 at Detroit's McNamara Terminal.

"Vino Volo is another world-class addition to our award-winning concessions program at the McNamara Terminal," said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson. "We welcome their arrival, and the innovative new concept and service they will provide our airport travelers."

Changing the way people travel, Vino Volo offers a sophisticated respite where travelers can taste great wines, enjoy small plates, and unwind in plush leather lounge chairs right next to their boarding gates. "I actually plan to be in the airport earlier than required so I can enjoy the relaxing break provided by Vino Volo," confessed one customer. "Great service, atmosphere and wine ... the best airport experience I've had!" raved a guest. Another stated, "You are an oasis of tranquility. Please open more!"

"Vino Volo is a completely new concept in wine retail and travel. We provide a unique wine tasting opportunity for air travelers looking for a place to spend their time before boarding," said Doug Tomlinson, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vino Volo. "We have completely reinvented the pre-travel experience at the airport by offering our guests a comfortable refuge while allowing them to taste and buy extraordinary wines at all price points. We select what we think are the best wines in each price category and organize them into tasting flights."

Detroit will add to the list of highly successful locations Vino Volo currently operates. Nationwide you can discover great wines at the Vino Volo in Washington DC's Dulles International Airport's (IAD) Concourse C, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's (SEA) Central Terminal Marketplace, Sacramento International Airport's (SMF) Terminal A, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport's (BWI) Terminal A, New York's JFK International Airport's (JFK) Terminal 8, and Philadelphia International Airport's (PHL) B/C Connector.

Each Vino Volo store combines a cozy lounge, a tasting bar, and a boutique wine retail area into a sophisticated, post-security retreat for air travelers. Vino Volo has a unique approach to wine tasting where customers can order tastes of hand-selected wines from around the world served side-by-side in a "tasting flight", served in Riedel crystal glasses, on a tasting tray that displays information about each wine. The wine menu will offer a rotating selection of wines grouped by wine region or grape varietal. In addition to the wine flights, Vino Volo will also sell wine by the glass or bottle, and will offer a selection of elegant small plates or tapas-sized dishes, such as locally produced artisan cheeses and dry cured meats, designed to complement the wine offerings. All of Vino Volo's small plates are available for guests to enjoy in the lounge or to carry with them onto their flight. Guests will also be treated to an integrated shopping experience, where wine, wine accessories and gifts can also be purchased to take home.

"Vino Volo's inviting storefront uses natural woods, clean lines and sophisticated merchandising elements to draw customers into the store to browse, taste and purchase fantastic wines from Michigan and around the world," said Metro Airport's Senior Vice President of Business Development Jack Vogel. "The store's design is the perfect complement to our beautiful McNamara Terminal, and its niche product and sophisticated atmosphere will provide our travelers with a tranquil oasis from our busy hub terminal."

The first Vino Volo debuted in September, 2005 at Washington DC's Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Vino Volo plans to open several dozen more stores in airports across the country in the next five years.

Customer service is a cornerstone of Vino Volo's strategy, and Vino Volo invests heavily in educating its talented staff to make wine approachable. A highly trained team of Wine Associates helps guests explore and enjoy Vino Volo's wines. The company also has a patented tasting framework to ease customers through the wine discovery process. Vino Volo is redefining service in airports, recently ranking #1 in customer service among over 900 airport stores mystery shopped, and winning the highly coveted Airport Revenue News industry award for "Highest Regard for Customer Service" in both 2007 and 2008.

The list of wine flights rotates regularly. The following are examples of the tasting flights that might appear on the menu:

— World Value Reds — value reds from Spain, Chile and Australia

— California Kings — regal Cabernet, Merlot and Zinfandel from California

— Shades of White — top picks for Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio

— Sommelier Series — two of the finest reds from Bordeaux and Napa Valley

— World Noirs — Pinot Noirs from around the world - New Zealand, California and Burgundy

— Great Lakes Whites — a selection of Michigan's best whites

— Summer RosÃ©s — beat the heat with delicious and refreshing pinks from around the world

— Celebration Sparklers — outstanding selections of festive bubbles Additional featured flights highlight local wine regions:

— Washington DC store: Taste of Virginia — local favorites that would make Thomas Jefferson proud

— Seattle store: Yakima Valley Whites — stellar selections from Washington wineries

— Sacramento store: Sierra Reds — Zinfandel, Syrah and Barbera from the Sierra foothills

— Baltimore store: Mid-Atlantic Tour — three great wines from Mid-Atlantic wineries

— New York store: I Love New York — top picks from Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes & Long Island

— Philadelphia store: Brotherly Love Blends — selections from three Pennsylvania wine regions

Every wine selection is available by the taste, by the glass, by the bottle, or in a tasting flight, with prices ranging from $6 to $14 per glass or tasting flight, up to the first class splurge flight "Sommelier Series". Wines are also available through Vino Volo's website at www.vinovolo.com . In addition, Vino Volo offers two wine clubs "American Treasures" and "Wines of the World" for enthusiasts who delight in specially selected hard-to-find wines to arrive in their homes monthly or quarterly.

Standing behind the Vino Volo team is a group of highly-credentialed investors and advisors with over a century of combined experience in retail, hospitality and wine that include the founder of Ravenswood Winery, the founder of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, and the CEO of Jamba Juice, among others. Each member of this group sits on a formal Advisory Board and actively consults to Vino Volo on its development and execution. "Taste, Inc. DBA Vino Volo" is the California-based legal entity behind all Vino Volo operations.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport's award-winning concession program has impressed travelers and industry groups alike. The airport's McNamara Terminal was recently honored in the 2007 Airport Revenue News (ARN) Concession Poll as: Best Overall Concession Program, Best Concession Management Team, Best Concession Program Design, and Airport with the Most Unique Services. DTW also finished first place among large North American airports in the categories of Best Food & Beverage Program and Best Retail Specialty Program, in Airports Council International — North America's (ACI-NA) 2006 Excellence in Concessions Contest. When the North Terminal opens in fall 2008, the airport will house more than 120 world-class shops and restaurants airport-wide, and will offer one of the largest and most diverse airport concession programs in the world.

For additional information about VINO VOLO, please contact: Carla Wytmar — Director of Development & Marketing — carlawytmar@vinovolo.com — or — Doug Tomlinson — CEO — dougtomlinson@vinovolo.com 415.255.0100 Discover Great Wines

SOURCE Wayne County Airport Authority

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