Catering & Bar
Corkage Fee
A per-bottle fee charged by a venue or caterer to open and serve wine you bring from outside.
Corkage fees usually run $15-40 per bottle and apply when a venue or caterer allows you to bring outside wine instead of using their list. They cover service, stemware, ice, and the liquor license risk.
Do the math: if the venue's wine markup is 200% over retail, paying $25 corkage on a $20 retail bottle is still way cheaper than a $60 list price. Always confirm corkage policy in the contract — many all-inclusive venues don't allow outside bottles at any price.