Cab Bro sounds like a self-important pr!ck. But it's worth pointing out that corkage is entirely up to the business and had your friend bothered to ask he would not have been surprised being required to pay the fee. Which was... how much? The last fancy-ass restaurant I visited (a few months ago) wanted $50 corkage per bottle! I ordered a couple of wines by the glass instead.
You would not be wrong sir…certainly Cab Bro and ego inflation go hand in glove. The fee as he stated was $45, which for a restaurant these days, sounds about the standard, generally waived if you buy a bottle off the list, at least that’s been my experience if I bring one of my own.
We have Burgundy Bros in our Wine Discord - a group I joined to have an LA social group around wine, but these guys consistently keep the conversation 90% about Burgundy and Napa, whatever the hot collectible labels are, and it's soooooooo booooooooring. They work in tech and only talk in cases, rarely single bottles, no one else can even afford that shit, even when they're "reasonably priced" so it's like why are they even sharing this with the group?
We did a unique/weird wine gathering this past weekend, annd all the Burgundy Bros were missing. And everyone had a wildly great time, with many members admitting something along the lines of: "Don't get me wrong, Burgundy and Bordeaux and Napa are all great, but when that's all we're drinking it's a little boring?"
Oh yeah, Pinot Bros are a thing up in Sonoma County as well. Either way, you’re right, always driving the conversation to whatever their interest is, Burgs or Napa-something. It’s the SNL skit, How Much you Bench? I will say Pinot Bros Winemakers are different than Cab Bro Winemakers, they have a different groove/feel about them…it’s when they start talking “cool climate” and “sub-AVA” that’s when you know they love Pinot and likely make it. Also, they “consult” on several projects all of which have NDAs
Considering the margins restaurants make on food as well, it’s not like corkage is there to be waived because you think you did the somm a favour. I’m going to a restaurant soon, nothing too fancy, which will charge £35 per 750ml bottle. Do I think that’s absurd? Yes. Do I expect it to be the same whether I bring Kirkland wine or a Chateau Palmer? Also yes.
I’ve always been a buy one (off the list) and bring mine (waived corkage) as long as I’m with at least 4 people that we can all agree on the wine we’re drinking. Otherwise, it’s just easier to drink off the list or get a cocktail.
Cab Bro sounds like a self-important pr!ck. But it's worth pointing out that corkage is entirely up to the business and had your friend bothered to ask he would not have been surprised being required to pay the fee. Which was... how much? The last fancy-ass restaurant I visited (a few months ago) wanted $50 corkage per bottle! I ordered a couple of wines by the glass instead.
You would not be wrong sir…certainly Cab Bro and ego inflation go hand in glove. The fee as he stated was $45, which for a restaurant these days, sounds about the standard, generally waived if you buy a bottle off the list, at least that’s been my experience if I bring one of my own.
We have Burgundy Bros in our Wine Discord - a group I joined to have an LA social group around wine, but these guys consistently keep the conversation 90% about Burgundy and Napa, whatever the hot collectible labels are, and it's soooooooo booooooooring. They work in tech and only talk in cases, rarely single bottles, no one else can even afford that shit, even when they're "reasonably priced" so it's like why are they even sharing this with the group?
We did a unique/weird wine gathering this past weekend, annd all the Burgundy Bros were missing. And everyone had a wildly great time, with many members admitting something along the lines of: "Don't get me wrong, Burgundy and Bordeaux and Napa are all great, but when that's all we're drinking it's a little boring?"
Oh yeah, Pinot Bros are a thing up in Sonoma County as well. Either way, you’re right, always driving the conversation to whatever their interest is, Burgs or Napa-something. It’s the SNL skit, How Much you Bench? I will say Pinot Bros Winemakers are different than Cab Bro Winemakers, they have a different groove/feel about them…it’s when they start talking “cool climate” and “sub-AVA” that’s when you know they love Pinot and likely make it. Also, they “consult” on several projects all of which have NDAs
Considering the margins restaurants make on food as well, it’s not like corkage is there to be waived because you think you did the somm a favour. I’m going to a restaurant soon, nothing too fancy, which will charge £35 per 750ml bottle. Do I think that’s absurd? Yes. Do I expect it to be the same whether I bring Kirkland wine or a Chateau Palmer? Also yes.
I’ve always been a buy one (off the list) and bring mine (waived corkage) as long as I’m with at least 4 people that we can all agree on the wine we’re drinking. Otherwise, it’s just easier to drink off the list or get a cocktail.
That’s definitely one way to go about it!
Special situation, I’m the guy who made the wine