Bringing your own treasured vintage to a restaurant is a great way to celebrate milestones. This practice, known as BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle), is common but requires paying a “corkage fee.”

What is a Corkage Fee?

Restaurants charge a fee per bottle to cover the loss of beverage sales, the rental and washing of fine glassware, and the sommelier’s professional service.

• Casual Bistro Average: $20 - $35 per bottle
• Fine Dining Average: $50 - $100 per bottle

Essential Etiquette Rules

• Call Ahead: Never show up with a bottle unannounced. Ask, “Do you allow wine corkage, and if so, what is the fee?”
• Avoid Listing Duplicates: Do not bring a bottle that is already on the restaurant’s active wine list.
• Offer a Taste: It is considered polite to offer a small tasting glass of your brought bottle to the sommelier or chef.