A Most Unusual Find for an Airport

I was waiting in Terminal D of the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Friday evening and stumbled on a most unusual resting spot. Normally when waiting in an airport I do a little walking around but eventually settle on a stop at Starbucks before going to the waiting area near the departure gate. On Friday while walking around in Terminal D, I rounded a corner and first walked into L'Occitane. While talking to the sales assistant I mentioned the winery that I had seen on my way into the shop. I asked if one could have a glass of wine there (it looked like a place that sold wines by the bottle). The sales associate quickly said of course you can relax there and have a glass of wine. What a discovery. I completed my purchase and walked over to the La Bodega Winery. It was lovely. The winery was beautifully appointed with plenty of cafe tables just outside the shop and inviting bar seating inside. There were also gifts and wine gadgets galore. Rod Stewart's Great American Songbook was playing and the nicest assistant, Elise, gave a big Texas welcome as I walked in. For the next hour I thoroughly enjoyed waiting in the airport. I ordered a glass of wine along with delicious Texas goat cheese wrapped in a hoja santa leaf. This shop was lovely for other reasons besides wine, cheese and ambiance. One of the nicest things about the winery was that it was a comfortable place for women traveling alone. I typically don't go to bars in airports but this shop was inviting and welcoming. Elise is currently taking classes through Wine Spectator and she is excited about sharing what she has learned. There were 3 other women in the shop and Elisedshared with us an illustration on how the tasting of wine works and why the sense of smell is so important in the process. To illustrate try this. First, hold your nose, put a jellybean in your mouth and chew. Notice that you will only taste something sweet. You will not be able to "taste" the flavor of the jellybean. Then let go of your nose and notice a burst of flavor. Elise explained that the taste or real aroma of the wine is found where the sense of smell meets sense of taste. I have included a photo of Elise with her jelly beans. I spent the rest of the visit in La Bodega sharing travel stories with the other women. It was a wonderful Friday night in the Dallas airport. If you happen to be traveling in the Dallas area and have a layover, you might want to stop in and enjoy your wait.