Definition

Noun: A fee charged by a restaurant or establishment for opening and serving a bottle of wine that a customer has brought with them, rather than purchasing it from the establishment's own wine list.

Usage

The term is used specifically in the context of dining and hospitality. It refers to the service charge applied for the convenience and service of opening, pouring, and sometimes chilling the customer's own wine. The fee is typically listed on the menu or wine list.

Examples

• The restaurant's corkage fee is $25 per bottle.
• We brought a special bottle from our cellar, so we didn't mind paying the corkage.
• Always call ahead to inquire about the corkage policy before bringing your own wine.

Advanced Usage

• "Corkage policy": The set of rules a restaurant has regarding bringing outside wine, including the fee amount, any bottle limits, and specific days when it is or isn't allowed.
  • The bistro has a generous corkage policy on Sundays.
• "Waive the corkage fee": To not charge the fee, often as a courtesy for regular customers or for special occasions.
  • The manager waived the corkage fee for our anniversary dinner.

Variants and Related Words

• Cork (verb): To seal a bottle with a cork. In the context of dining, it is the act of opening or re-sealing a wine bottle, which is the service the fee covers.
  • Could you please cork this bottle for us to take home?

Synonyms

• Bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) fee: A more descriptive, informal term for a corkage charge, especially at restaurants that do not have a liquor license.
• Service charge for outside wine: A literal description of the fee.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term corkage is almost exclusively used in the context described above. Its historical or technical meanings related to the act of corking (sealing) or uncorking are largely obsolete in modern English outside of this specific hospitality context.

Noun

1. a charge added at a restaurant for every bottle of wine served that was not bought on the premises