Recorking is a term applied when a partially full bottle of wine is re-sealed so that the patron can take it to-go if they haven't finished it by the time their meal is over. Some restaurants even stock specially sized bags - clear in states that require it and discrete brown in most other locations - for packing up the unfinished bottles. Packing up bottles of wine is less common than packing a regular doggie-bag, so not all restaurants will have appropriate bags, but even without them, restaurants are starting to use recorking as a means of increasing their margins, boosting liquor sales by encouraging patrons to buy bottles, rather than just a glass at a time.
Getting the bottles to-go can be trickier than it sounds, however. Thirty-four states may currently allow it, but forty states have open-container laws that prohibit open bottles of alcohol, even corked ones, from being in a moving vehicle (the specifics depend on the state).
Difficulties of getting the bottle home aside, does recorking make you more likely to go for the full bottle? Would it if a favorite restaurant began to offer the service?
Chocolate-stuffed bananas on the grill
Tyler Florence welcomes new daughter
Beware kids' menus!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-23-2006 @ 11:54AM
Megan said...
It's not legal to recork in South Dakota, but most restaurants will leave the cork on the table and turn their heads when you take the bottle with you when you leave. That's what giant purses are for...
Reply
9-23-2006 @ 2:42PM
Steve said...
Thank "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" for this kind of silliness.
Reply
9-25-2006 @ 3:09PM
B said...
Seems like a bad idea to me. You're better off just ordering what you can drink in the resturant and buying a full bottle at a liquor store, where it'll be considerabally less expensive.
Reply
9-26-2006 @ 10:26PM
kathryn said...
This is a whole world away from our experience here in Australia, where the majority of restaurants, as well as selling wine, allow you to BYO (bring your own).
If there is some left over, it's assumed you'll be taking it away with you and most restaurants have a stockpile of corks for just this purpose.
Reply