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Corkage- misleading

  • 05-12-2013 06:03PM
    #1
    Misticles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,746 ✭✭✭✭


    In our venues wedding brochure it states the price for corkage on a per bottle basis.

    I enquired about bringing a magnum and then was told corkage is based the amount per bottle.

    Should I argue the fact it states it's per bottle in the brochure and that's what I signed my name to or am I fighting a losing battle.


Comments

  • #2
    Dubl07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,801 ✭✭✭Dubl07


    Frankly I'd charge extra for a magnum or other big bottle; ie more than 2xbottle corkage. It's more awkward to open (decant) and pour and the venue will use the same amount of glassware as for two bottles to serve the wine to your guests.


  • #3
    Gatica
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,302 ✭✭✭Gatica


    quite often contract state what size a bottle is when it says per bottle, i.e. for both sparking and regular wine a bottle is considered 750ml.
    If your contract does not say size, that's their own fault, but they probably assumed it's implied that it's standard bottles.
    I'd certainly argue my case for a 1lt bottle but I do think it'd be a bit unfair expecting the same for a bottle over 2ce the size of a standard one.


  • #4
    Electric Sheep
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,114 ✭✭✭Electric Sheep


    Gatica wrote: »
    quite often contract state what size a bottle is when it says per bottle, i.e. for both sparking and regular wine a bottle is considered 750ml.
    If your contract does not say size, that's their own fault, but they probably assumed it's implied that it's standard bottles.
    I'd certainly argue my case for a 1lt bottle but I do think it'd be a bit unfair expecting the same for a bottle over 2ce the size of a standard one.

    It's still just one cork per bottle, though. If it is supposed to be corkage, then it should per bottle of any size, it's the same amount of work.


  • #5
    Dubl07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,801 ✭✭✭Dubl07


    Electric Sheep wrote: »
    It's still just one cork per bottle, though. If it is supposed to be corkage, then it should per bottle of any size, it's the same amount of work.

    The charge isn't for cutting the foil and removing the cork - it also covers providing clean glasses and pouring the wine into them.


  • #6
    Gatica
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,302 ✭✭✭Gatica


    What Dubl07 said. The word corkage itself may be misleading, however it's not just for physically uncorking the bottle, because then you could just get a screw cap altogether and pay nothing...
    The hotel still has to have staff to pour and serve the drink as most of the time they don't just plop them on the table for guests to help themselves. Especially for sparking wine, there's a bit of careful pouring to get lots of trays ready for serving to guests and then possibly do top-ups, though I think they're less common for sparking wines. In fact that probably means even more glassware and more washing-up after...


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  • #7
    Peregrinus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 28,401 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    Basically, yes, the amount of work involved in serving wine, the cost of providing glasses, etc, depends on the amount of wine served, and not really on the number of containers it's served from. A "per bottle" charge is per standard bottle.


  • #8
    Senna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,800 ✭✭✭Senna


    Corkage has nothing to do with opening it, glasses, staff etc
    Corkage is the fine you pay for not using the hotels wine. The hotel is a business that either makes a profit or closes, if you want to forego the hotel proving their products then they will ask you to will pay them their profit per bottle as a corkage fee.


  • #9
    ABajaninCork
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    Dubl07 wrote: »
    The charge isn't for cutting the foil and removing the cork - it also covers providing clean glasses and pouring the wine into them.

    As well as the liqour licence...


  • #10
    Greenmachine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,063 ✭✭✭Greenmachine


    How much difference is this making to the overall cost of the wedding. Would expect it is related to overall service level provided.


  • #11
    eggox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 80 ✭✭eggox


    Greenmachine wrote: »
    How much difference is this making to the overall cost of the wedding. Would expect it is related to overall service level provided.

    Hotels make the most profit from there drinks sales, but everything is bumped up in price so there profit margins are bigger on weddings. We managed to get free corkage for are wedding in august. But then they knew im a chef


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  • #12
    Greenmachine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,063 ✭✭✭Greenmachine


    eggox wrote: »
    Hotels make the most profit from there drinks sales, but everything is bumped up in price so there profit margins are bigger on weddings. We managed to get free corkage for are wedding in august. But then they knew im a chef

    There is truth in that. My point was just that if you are supplying your own booze, it is less booze sales for the hotel. Others have already mentioned the costs of supplying the glasses etc. Congrats if you managed to get the corkage free, I assume that you confirmed those details with the hotel before making the initial booking.


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