"Johnny Lobster" > wrote in message
...
>I have noticed that many restaurants near my home in Denver are
> raising their wine prices. They are already charging three to four
> times the retail cost of a bottle. When my local French bistro raised
> theor prices so that there were no bottles under $30, I stopped going
> there and let them know why.
>
> However, recently a Pasqiuni's pizzaria opened in the neighborhood
> with no bottle over $20 and many around the $11 mark. Shortly after
> this, Swing Thai lowered their wine prices so that decent bottles can
> be had for $14. Then another downtown restaurant started offering
> bottles for half price before 7:00. I hope these are not all
> coincidental, and that they are trying to compete. Just two weeks ago
> I ate in a wine bar-restaurant in San Diego, and they had good
> Australian Shriaz for $7 a bottle.
>
> Lobster
>
>
In California a restaurant has to allow you to bring a bottle of wine into
the restaurant and drink it. They can, and do, charge you a "corkage fee",
usually $10, occasionally $15, and rarely $30+. Wine prices here in
restaurants have skyrocked as well and this is one way to decrease the price
a bit. You buy a bottle of "two buck Chuck" mask the label in some way and
go to your favorite restaurant. I usually take in a reasonably priced good
wine that the somnelier won't recognize.

Cheers,

Kent