Late notice posted by MoCo on shuttered Vino Volo in Bethesda

The Montgomery County health department is really getting around Bethesda these days, with more official shutdown notices posted in the last couple of weeks than I've seen in the last couple of years combined. This one is strange though, because Vino Volo has been closed for almost three months, and this notice was just posted in the last couple of weeks. The restaurant simply failed and went out of business; it was not closed for a health violation.

BETHESDA ROW SIDEWALK SALE STARTS TODAY, AND VINO VOLO HAS DEALS FOR YOU (PHOTOS)

Today starts a weekend of food, shopping and entertainment at the annual Bethesda Row Sidewalk Sale. At least one boutique, COURAGE. b, couldn't wait until today. They hosted a Pre-Sidewalk Sale sale at their Bethesda Lane shop last night.

Meanwhile, among the many places to dine or drink in-between fabulous fashion finds is Vino Volo. Don't forget that they are as much a wine shop as a wine bar. During the Sidewalk Sale this weekend, you can save 50% on select wines, and 20% off merchandise.

You can also get a ride from UberDC - If you are joining Uber for the first time, enjoy 2 free rides up to $20 using the code "VinoVolo" this weekend.

Vino Volo has a new summer menu and wine pairings. New items include a refreshingly-cool watermelon and feta salad (pictured), Wine County chicken paté, and lamb meatballs.

Top photos: Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row
Photos from Vino Volo courtesy Jason Morenz

MEET THE WINEMAKER: CALSTAR CELLARS AT VINO VOLO BETHESDA ROW TONIGHT!

Tonight's Meet the Winemaker event at Vino Volo at Bethesda Row welcomes Calstar Cellars, from Santa Rosa, California. The event will run from 6:00-8:00 PM.

Calstar proprietor Rick Davis learned the trade in New Paltz, NY, a zip up the Gov. Thomas E. Dewey Thruway from New York City. Davis made the move to California wine country to launch his own label - but not before many years of working with some of the best winemakers in Sonoma County.

Calstar specializes in Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Their latest is a 2013 Rose of Pinot Meunier, from California's Russian River Valley. It promises hints of strawberry, mango, tangerine, cherry, peach, apple, banana, cinnamon and vanilla. Definitely one to try, it sounds like.

Vino Volo, 7243 Woodmont Avenue, 301-656-0916

BROOKLYN OENOLOGY AT VINO VOLO BETHESDA ROW THURSDAY, JULY 18 6-9 PM

Vino Volo's Meet the Winemaker series continues with a fascinating winery, tomorrow evening (Thursday) from 6-9 PM at Bethesda Row.

Brooklyn Oenology has its headquarters and tasting room in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. Using New York state grapes, it makes its wine on Long Island.

The winery says it hopes to move all of its operations to Brooklyn in the future. Its wine bottles feature artists from New York City, so it is definitely a label for locavores, or any wine lover wanting to try something different.

To make reservations, call Vino Volo Bethesda Row at 301-656-0916.

MEET BOXWOOD WINERY TONIGHT AT VINO VOLO BETHESDA ROW

Tonight from 5:00-7:00 PM at Vino Volo Bethesda Row, it's time to once again Meet the Winemaker.

This time it is a local winery, John Kent Cooke's Boxwood, from Middleburg, VA.

Boxwood only produces red wines. The four types you'll find are Boxwood, Trellis, Topiary and Rosé.

If you are a red wine aficionado, make a point of making reservations now for this special event, tonight at Vino Volo (301-656-0916).

MEET THE WINEMAKER EVENT AT VINO VOLO BETHESDA ROW FRIDAY

The owners of Forrest winery operate 9 vineyards in Marlborough, located in the Wairau river valley of New Zealand.

But this Friday, June 21, from 5-7 PM, Forrest representatives will be at Vino Volo at Bethesda Row.

Get ready to learn about what makes the soil of Marlborough uniquely qualified to produce these grapes, and taste the fabulous results for yourself.

Call 301-656-0916 to make reservations now for this special event.

MEET THE WINEMAKER AT VINO VOLO IN BETHESDA ON APRIL 24

Vino Volo at Bethesda Row invites you to Meet the Winemaker on Wednesday, April 24, from 6-9 PM.

Their guest will be from Acorn Winery of Healdsburg, in California's Russian River Valley. The latter three words are familiar to even the most casual American wine aficionado, of course.

Family owned and operated by Betsy and Bill Nachbaur, Acorn offers the following varieties:

Russian River Valley Cabernet Franc Russian River Valley Dolcetto
Russian River Valley Sangiovese
Russian River Valley
Syrah Russian River Valley
Zinfandel
Acorn Hill, a proprietary blend
Medley, a proprietary blend
Rosato, a dry rosé

One of Acorn's specialties is field blends. Field blends are pretty much what they sound like: different varieties of grapes, grown together in the same vineyard, with flavors that complement each other when blended together in a finished product.

So, save yourself the airfare to California, and stop by Vino Volo on the 24th to sample the best of Acorn Winery.

VINO VOLO BETHESDA REVIEW (PHOTOS)

Wednesday evening, I was invited to Vino Volo at Bethesda Row to try their menu and wines.

It was interesting to finally be inside the architectural designs I had been seeing online so many months ago.

The interior is warmer than it appeared in the artist renderings, with nice wood tables, mirrors and a mixture of lighting and candlelight.  Overall, it's not too dark, or too loud, despite being very busy after 6:30.  I also noticed fellow diners were from across the age spectrum.

The staff is very attentive without being disruptive. I would compare the service to Coastal Flats in Tyson's Corner, which is probably the gold standard for dining rooms.

James, our server, can also be your sommelier, recommending the right wine glass or flight to accompany each course.

I am a Malbec person, so I ordered the Revolution Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.  It was one of the best I've had. While it had the usual complexity of a Malbec, the hints of mint, mushroom and cigar box seemed to balance the many flavors more than any other I have tried. It also had that tendency to "evolve" in flavor character in the glass as the evening went on, as you might expect from a Malbec.

There was also a 3-glass flight on the table, reds from France, California and New Zealand.  The best was the Maison Champy Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France, an $18 glass.

A starter of olives produced a variety of 4, and varying sizes.  If you are used to hollow or stuffed olives, watch out for pits.

The main courses are well-geared for the chilly weather hitting Bethesda again.  Don't expect a bar and grill flatbread from the pizza menu here.  This thin crust becomes a canvas for very fresh toppings, including Roma tomatoes, arugula, and shaved parmesan (which would be a great snack by itself).

I also highly recommend the baked Truffled Penne pasta, with white cheddar, smoked Gouda, truffle oil, fennel sausage, and toasted bread crumbs. This dish is hearty, very rich, and perfect when coming in from the cold at Bethesda Row. I've been conditioned by tapas and small plates restaurants to expect a half serving to be small. And the half-portion was only $8 on the menu. So I ordered the full size for $15.  My advice is to get the half portion, which is a full meal, and a complete steal at $8.  You could get that and the Malbec for $16, which is a fantastic deal for products of this quality. I also found the bread crumbs reflective of good bread to start with. But also playing a more active role in the flavor of the dish, rather than the afterthought they can often be.

I give both of these main courses 5 stars.

For dessert, there is a small but rich Chocolate Torte with raspberry coulis, which has a 5-star chocolate flavor. And a changing selection of Dolcezza gelato. This week, the flavors were Cinnamon, Maple Syrup and Blood Orange Sorbet.  I love maple flavor, so that's what I chose. If you've had Dolcezza around the bend at Bethesda Row, you know what you're getting. It was a generous scoop, too. I rate it 4 stars, because - while the basic flavor and texture were just fine - I though the maple flavor could have been slightly stronger and richer. If you're not a maple maniac like me, it may be just fine for you, though.

All in all, I was very impressed, and will be coming back.  The great thing is, you can make 3 visits here, and affordably broaden your wine horizons by 9 with 1 flight each time.  The lower entrée prices will also allow you to splurge more on the wine list side.

As I had predicted, Vino Volo is a great addition to Bethesda Row. Some minor logistical bumps at the opening have given way to a successful execution of the concept. Highly recommended.

VINO VOLO ADDS OUTDOOR SEATING, BETHESDA GRAND OPENING TONIGHT (PHOTOS)

Vino Volo will finally open at Bethesda Row with a grand opening reception tonight.

First, however, the wine bar has added outdoor patio seating out front.

The comfortable accomodations include outdoor space heaters.

Vino Volo is under more pressure with this belated opening, after not only canceling the original opening at the last minute, but also leaving many in the community feeling snubbed by its unusually-exclusive local marketing.

Perhaps appropriately for a business expanding out of the airport market, Vino Volo descended on Bethesda, apparently determining who they thought the important local media outlets were from 30,000 feet.

Although those few were invited in some form or another to the wine bar, strangely, no one has yet posted an actual review of the concept or - more importantly - the food.  The result has been that maybe 3 or 4 online voices are talking about Vino Volo, rather than the dozens of influential local/food bloggers who might have been.

The exclusive media streams then made it difficult for those planning to attend last week's grand opening to find out it had been abruptly postponed.  I myself was informed just prior to the start time of the opening.  Not to mention that I've never heard of a well-publicized grand opening being canceled.

Then there are the passersby who have been asking me just what has been going on behind those papered-over windows the last two weeks.  Honestly, I don't know myself.  It appears there have been dozens of exclusive, private events of some kind.  Almost as if an entire nearby city was invited to dine, while residents of our fair city were shut out.  Occasionally, an attendee tweets from one of these events.  But I haven't been able to figure out just who these attendees are, and why they were invited.  What I do know is that a lot of potential customers have approached the storefront hopefully, and found yet another private event going on.

So it's definitely been an unusual opening strategy.  Which is a shame, because I thought the menu sounded great.  And Vino Volo is a perfect fit for Bethesda Row.  This is the Federal Realty property where the company has really matched the tenants with the demographics of the area.

I think The Parva, Vapiano and Boloco have shown how to do a grand opening:  getting actual community members and influential online entities into their restaurants, letting them sample the menu, and then posting their reactions en masse on their Twitter and Facebook accounts and/or blogs.  That's how you engage the locality you are going to rely upon for the bulk of your customer base.  You really can't afford, in the social media age, to ignore social media and the free advertising it provides.

VINO VOLO GRAND OPENING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9

The wait is over:  new Bethesda wine bar Vino Volo is opening this Friday, at 4:30 PM, at Bethesda Row.  The night before, there will be an invitation-only reception.

VINO VOLO SIGNS ARE UP AT BETHESDA ROW, EXCLUSIVE INTERIOR PHOTOS!

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The construction of the (not-so-distant) future Vino Volo wine bar at Bethesda Row is picking up steam.

Now many of the interior details hinted at in the renderings I previously posted are in place.

VINO VOLO BETHESDA ROW EXTERIOR TAKING SHAPE (PHOTOS)

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS!

The highly-anticipated Bethesda Row wine bar Vino Volo is starting to resemble the impressive sketches I posted a few weeks back.

Here are a few shots of the progress:

Reminds me a bit of Redwood on Bethesda
Lane.  What do you think?

VINO VOLO BETHESDA ROW DESIGN REVEALED! EXCLUSIVE IMAGES!

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The first images of the exterior and interior of Bethesda Row's future wine bar, Vino Volo, have been revealed!

Here's how Vino Volo at
Bethesda Row looks now

But this is what it will look like when
finished, thanks to impressive designs
by Collective Architecture, LLC

Collective Architecture, LLC

Collective Architecture, LLC

INSIDE VINO VOLO AT BETHESDA ROW - EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS!

WHAT'S GOING ON

BEHIND THE WALL?

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

One of the year's most anticipated openings is that of upscale wine bar Vino Volo at Bethesda Row.

The doorway was open last evening, and I was able to get these exclusive photos from the sidewalk for you.

They've got a ways to go there, but I'm definitely looking forward to this grand opening.

VINO VOLO BANNER IS UP AT BETHESDA ROW

One of Bethesda's most-anticipated openings this fall is that of wine bar Vino Volo.

A banner announcing the fall opening is now displayed on the Bethesda Row storefront.

Vino Volo has a patented wine chart to help even the novice discover new and great wines.  Personally, I fall into their "brooding" category, I think.  Malbec is my favorite.

Surprisingly, their menu is better than many restaurants'.  The Tuscan chicken sandwich is the only menu item that sounds kind of boring.  I want to try everything else on there.

So I'm definitely looking forward to this grand opening.

Have you visited any of the existing airport locations of Vino Volo around the country?  What did you think of the food and wine?

VINO VOLO SELECTS TEEL CONSTRUCTION TO BUILD NEW BETHESDA ROW LOCATION

Vino Volo, an upscale wine bar opening at Bethesda Row this summer, has hired Teel Construction to develop its space.

Teel Construction has done many retail, restaurant and office spaces around the DC area.  My personal favorite is Circa in Clarendon.  If they were to use Circa as a starting point, Vino Volo could be a spectacular design at Bethesda Row.

Vino Volo is also in the process of obtaining its liquor license from the county.  Which is kind of important when you have a wine bar!

The new Bethesda Row location is the first Vino Volo not located in an airport.