What Is a Corkage Fee and Why Do Restaurants Use It?

 

 

What Is a Corkage Fee and Why Do Restaurants Use It?

Picture this: you’re heading out to dinner at a favorite restaurant, but you’ve been saving a special bottle of wine at home, a vintage you picked up on a trip or a gift from a friend. You want to bring it along and enjoy it with your meal. But when the check arrives, you notice an extra charge you weren’t expecting: the corkage fee.

This is a moment that leaves many diners scratching their heads. Why should you pay a fee when you’ve already brought your own wine? The answer lies in understanding what corkage really is and why restaurants use it. Once you know the meaning of the corkage fee, it makes far more sense, and you can even use it to your advantage the next time you dine out.

 

What Does That Fee Really Mean?

Even though you provide the bottle, the restaurant is still providing service. The corkage fee covers things like presenting and opening your wine with care, pouring it into the correct glasses, keeping it at the right temperature and making sure the experience feels seamless. In other words, you’re not just paying for someone to pop a cork, you’re paying for the same level of hospitality and professionalism that comes with ordering a bottle directly from their wine list.

 

Why Some Restaurants Charge Corkage

Restaurants typically cite two main reasons:

1. Staff effort: Opening and serving wine correctly requires training and attention.
2. Lost profit: Wine sales are often where restaurants earn their margin.

 

How Much Is a Corkage Fee (or “Cork Charge”)?

Corkage fees vary a lot depending on the type of restaurant. At more casual or neighborhood spots, you might pay anywhere between $10 and $30 per bottle. In mid-range fine dining restaurants, the fee often falls between $30 and $50, reflecting the higher level of service, like table-side presentation and ensuring the wine is poured at the right temperature. At the very top end, particularly in exclusive restaurants or high-demand cities like London or New York, a corkage fee can soar past $100, with some establishments charging as much as $150 (or more). At that point, the “cork charge” is less about covering service and more about nudging guests toward ordering from the house wine list.

 

A Brief History of Corkage Fees

The concept of corkage isn’t new but dates back to centuries-old European dining traditions. In France, guests sometimes brought their own bottles of wine to inns or restaurants, particularly when traveling through wine regions. The establishments would still need to open, serve, and clean up after the bottles, so they began charging a small fee to cover the service. Over time, this became formalized as the “corkage fee.”

In the United States, corkage gained traction in the mid-20th century, especially in places where liquor licenses were expensive or limited. Some restaurants allowed patrons to bring their own bottles as a way to attract customers, with the corkage charge helping offset lost profits. Today, the practice is widespread around the world, though the rules and prices vary depending on local laws and dining culture.

 

Corkage Around the World

• France & Italy: Rare in traditional restaurants, since wine is central to the dining experience and often expected to be ordered from the house list.
• United States: Very common, especially in California and New York, where wine culture is strong and diners enjoy bringing special bottles.
• UK & Australia: Corkage is common in BYOB restaurants, where diners are expected to bring their own alcohol, sometimes with only a small cork charge attached.
• Asia: In countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, corkage fees can be very high, reflecting luxury dining culture and high liquor taxes.

 

Pro Tips to Save on Corkage

• Look for fee-waiver nights: Some restaurants waive corkage fees on slow nights to attract guests.
• Buy one, bring one: Many venues allow you to bring your own bottle if you also purchase one from their list.
• Loyalty counts: Regular customers often get corkage perks or discounts just by asking.

 

Etiquette Tips for Paying Corkage

To make the most of your experience and avoid sour grapes:

• Call ahead to check if the restaurant allows BYOB and what their fee is. Ask if they waive the fee when you purchase a bottle from them.
• Tip on the bottle: Some sommeliers recommend tipping as if you’d bought the wine there to reward the service.
• Bring something truly special: Many sommeliers consider it poor form to pay a $50 corkage fee for a cheap or mediocre bottle.
• Be respectful: Corkage is a courtesy. Arguing over it isn’t a great look.

 

FAQ

Is corkage legal?

Yes, if the restaurant has a liquor license and the practice is allowed in local laws. In many regions, BYOB and corkage are permitted, as long as the policies are transparent.

Do all venues charge corkage?

Nope. BYOB-style venues let you bring your own bottle with minimal service and often no fee. Corkage applies when a full wine service is offered.

Can corkage ever be waived?

Sometimes, if you order wine from the restaurant, during special events, for loyal customers or if something else went wrong during service.