Why is a restaurant charging corkage? Alcohol sales help the
bottom line expenses i.e. staff wages, rent, power and
gas, licenses, banking fees, stemware breakage…the list goes on. In fine dining
establishments your wine will be handled by a sommelier who will treat your
wine professionally from decanting, serving, as well as steering you in the right food pairing
direction.
BYOW RULES
Contact the
restaurant regarding corkage fees
Remember that BYOW is not the law and is not accepted at all restaurants. Call ahead to insure you
can bring your own bottle and avoid any embarrassment.
What wine to bring
Have a look at the restaurant’s wine list on-line. Bring a
bottle that s not on the list.
Delivery of wine
If you have a special mature vintage look at dropping the
wine off 24 hours ahead of your reservation. This will allow the restaurant to
prepare your wine for decanting. If you are bringing a white or sparkling
consider chilling it first. Arriving
with the wine in an insulated bag or carrier adds some class to your arrival.
Don’t bring rubbish
BYOB is a privilege; bringing a cheap bottle of wine says “ you
do not care” much about restaurant or their clientele. This is important in fine dining restaurants.
I suggest buying a wine that is in the similar caliber or better than what is
on the list.
Offer the Sommelier/Server
a taste
In fine dining establishments or wine centric bars your
server most likely has an interest in wine. Offering a taste creates an instant
rapport and you may get some great food pairing suggestions for your special
bottle.
Eat out mid week and not just weekends
Friday and Saturdays are traditionally the busiest nights in
the restaurant industry. BYOB on slower nights shows great respect to the
restaurant and staff. Sunday through Wednesday’s are usually slower nights so
you should experience more attentive service verses the hustle and bustle of a
busy night.
Don’t be cheap with
the TIP
Remember to base your tip on the final bill that will
include the corkage fee. Hopefully restaurants offering corkage will treat your
wine with due respect; served correctly and in proper stemware, and by a wine
savvy server.
The FEE
There is no set structure for the corkage fee. It will be decided
by the restaurant and can be free to over $60 a bottle. Expect additional fees
if you bring more than one bottle or larger format bottles.
Corked Wine
If your BYOB is corked I would expect a restaurant to waive
the corkage fee. Consider bringing more than one bottle to avoid this issue or
be prepared to buy off the wine list.
C&S CHURCH AND STATE
Only bottles purchased through a BCLDB distribution channel can be opened at participating restaurant. Opened bottles are not allowed. Serving It Right rules apply. You can take the remaining wine home in a sealed tote and it must not be within reach of a driver of an automobile. You will be charged HST on corkage.
C&S CHURCH AND STATE
Only bottles purchased through a BCLDB distribution channel can be opened at participating restaurant. Opened bottles are not allowed. Serving It Right rules apply. You can take the remaining wine home in a sealed tote and it must not be within reach of a driver of an automobile. You will be charged HST on corkage.
The corking fee at The Keg has been $25 since inception. This is the 2nd time I've been to a restaurant and your posted fee was wrong.
ReplyDeleteThanks! What other restaurant? I depend on the establishments to keep me updated of they change any details. As you can see there have been very few new restaurants even bothering with corkage since September.
DeleteI just called Manvirro's Indian Grill in Courtenay, and they said their corkage fee is $7-8, if you'd like to add them to your list!
ReplyDeleteWe just went to Ciao Thyme in Whistler. Being from Aus took a bottle and was told that they would charge corkage (he did not say how much). No problem as it is usually only 3 or 4 dollars per person back home. We nearly fell over when they put $20 on the bill and the waiter said it should have been $35!!
ReplyDeleteSeasons In the Park has corkage for $20/bottle with no limit on the number of bottles you can bring.
ReplyDeleteGood to know. Thanks Stephen
DeleteI was wondering what the etiquette and protocol are typical for a large party. I'm having a reception of 30 people, about 30ish bottles of wine. The restaurant wants to charge 20 per bottle with an additional 10% tax per bottle. They said this was because liquor is taxed 10 %, but should that apply to corkage? I thought corkage would be considered a service. What is the usual way to calculate corkage for large parties?
ReplyDeletewww.sbr.gov.bc.ca/documents_library/bulletins/pst_119.pdf
ReplyDelete"Some restaurants allow customers to bring their own unopened bottle of commercially-made wine to consume during their meal, and charge opening or “corkage” fees. You do not charge PST on opening and corkage fees because these charges do not form part of the purchase price paid by the customer for the wine."
Wine prices in restaurants are too high. It is price gouging. Corkage fees is price gouging. I am not playing anymore.
ReplyDelete