The corkage fee (BYOB)

The corkage fee, or BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle), could it become more widespread with the success of natural wine?

Indeed, many restaurateurs are reluctant to change their wine list in favour of local, at least organic wines. "We have an excellent Rioja" is still heard too often in Spain. In 2021, the closing dinner of the Alicante gastronomy week was accompanied by two "conventional", not to say industrial wines, a Rioja and a Ribera del Duero.

As informed consumers and advocates of healthy wines, we might be tempted to go to a restaurant with a bottle of our own choosing, citing a sulfite allergy to facilitate the process. The practice is common in the United States and accepted in France and Italy by many establishments; it is best to ask when making a reservation. In the Alicante region of Spain, outside very tourist areas, it is generally accepted.