Better Than It Has Any Right To Be
John Wayne Airport – Terminal B · Santa Ana · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Vino Volo – John Wayne Airport’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Vino Volo mid-terminal, bags in tow and gate anxiety kicking in, the bar actually feels like a place you want to sit down. It's polished without being pretentious, and the staff moves with a purpose you don't usually see at airports. Your expectations are low walking in — they shouldn't be.
The list leans into a hits-from-around-the-world format: California, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina — the usual suspects done reasonably well. Don't come expecting an adventurous deep dive into Jura or the Canary Islands; this is a crowd-pleasing program built for travelers who want something recognizable and drinkable, not something that challenges them. The regional spread is wider than most airport bars manage, which at least gives you options beyond the Napa Cab or the anonymous Pinot Grigio. Gaps in the old-world depth are real, but for a terminal wine bar, the range is more than serviceable.
The by-the-glass program is the whole point here — most people aren't ordering bottles before a flight. The selection spans the main regions on the list, giving you a white, a red, and a rosé across a few price points without much drama. Rotation feels slow and tied to what moves quickly rather than what's seasonal or interesting, but the pours are honest and the glasses are clean.
The Bottom Line
Vino Volo clears the airport bar bar by a comfortable margin — better-than-expected service, a list that at least tries, and a seat that makes a delay feel like less of a punishment. Just don't look too hard at the markup and you'll be fine.
North Santa Ana / Floral Park-adjacent · Santa Ana · Italian (Tuscan/Florentine-focused)
Baci di Firenze isn't building a wine destination — it's building a neighborhood restaurant that happens to have the right Italian bottles for its Italian food, at prices that won't make you wince. Send a friend here for a low-key date night and tell them to order the Vernaccia.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Coast Metro · Santa Ana · Upscale Italian
Antonello is the real deal for classic Italian fine dining wine in Orange County — deep list, proper cellar, staff who know what they're talking about. Just go in knowing that the prestige pricing is part of the deal, and steer toward the mid-tier gems rather than the trophy bottles if you want to walk out feeling smart.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Santiago Park / Orange Hill-adjacent north Santa Ana · Santa Ana · Steakhouse and American
Orange County Mining Co. is a special-occasion spot that leans hard on its setting and its steaks — the wine list is along for the ride, not leading the charge. Come for the view and the prime rib, order the Jordan, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Coast Metro · Santa Ana · Modern Spanish Tapas and Steakhouse
Vaca is the best Spanish wine list in Orange County and it isn't particularly close — a sommelier-driven program with real range, fair pricing on serious bottles, and a sherry selection that alone justifies the trip. Send your friends here, especially the ones who think they don't like Spanish wine.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Arena Corporate Center / North Santa Ana · Santa Ana · Steakhouse & American
The Ranch is doing something genuinely impressive: a 600-bottle program with a real sommelier, proper storage, and varietal-matched glassware inside what is technically a saloon. Markups on the trophy bottles are what they are, but the depth and care here put it ahead of most steakhouses twice the size.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
South Coast Metro · Santa Ana · Contemporary French
Knife Pleat is the rare restaurant where the wine program earns its Michelin-starred company — deep French list, a somm who knows it, and a pairing format that actually delivers. The markups are what they are at this level, but if you're coming here, you already knew this wasn't going to be cheap.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
· St. Paul · Wine Bar
Small Hours is the rare Minneapolis wine bar that feels like it was built for people who actually love wine, not just the idea of it. If you're showing up for a bottle and some duck leg confit with a record on in the background, you're going to have a very good night.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Los Feliz · Los Angeles · Wine Bar
Tabula Rasa is the kind of wine bar that rewards regulars — the list rotates, the prices are fair, and the room alone is worth the visit. We'd send friends here on a Tuesday without hesitation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Tucson · Wine Bar
Tinajas is doing something genuinely uncommon for Tucson: a thoughtfully curated, bubble-centric list with fair pricing and real range across sparkling styles and regions. Send a friend here if they think bubbles are just for celebrations — this list will change their mind.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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