corkage fee

Meaning

A corkage fee is a charge applied by a restaurant when guests bring their own bottle of wine to open and drink during their meal. This fee covers the cost of the restaurant providing glassware, serving the wine, and washing up. It is a common practice in many mid-to-high-end restaurants globally, though rules and prices vary.

Examples

• We brought a special bottle of champagne, but the restaurant charged a $30 corkage fee.

  We brought a special bottle of champagne, but the restaurant charged a $30 corkage fee.

• Is there a corkage fee if we bring our own wine to the dinner?

  Is there a corkage fee if we bring our own wine to the dinner?

• Some restaurants waive the corkage fee on Tuesday nights to attract more customers.

  Some restaurants waive the corkage fee on Tuesday nights to attract more customers.

• The corkage fee was so high that it was cheaper to buy a bottle from their wine list.

  The corkage fee was so high that it was cheaper to buy a bottle from their wine list.

• I always call ahead to ask about the corkage fee before bringing rare vintages to a restaurant.

  I always call ahead to ask about the corkage fee before bringing rare vintages to a restaurant.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The restaurant charged us a cork fee for opening our wine.

  ✓ The restaurant charged us a corkage fee for opening our wine.

  'Cork fee' is incorrect. The established industry term is 'corkage fee' or simply 'corkage'.

• ✗ Can we bring our wine if we pay the corkage price?

  ✓ Can we bring our wine if we pay the corkage fee?

  In English, fixed service charges are called 'fees' rather than 'prices'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you bring your own wine to the restaurant, they will likely charge you a ___.

  💡 The fee charged for opening and serving your own bottle.

  Show answer

  corkage fee

• Does this restaurant have a ___ or can we bring our own bottle for free?

  💡 The term for the charge applied to customer-provided wine.

  Show answer

  corkage fee