Wines by the glass

[Lemons]

My wife and I enjoy having wine with our meals and we usually order a bottle with our dinner. Normally, we choose from a wine list and know the cost before we decide. We also enjoy having a glass of wine when we are at a bar instead of a mixed drink.

A few days ago, we were in Atlantic City and during a break in the action we decided to stop at a bar off the casino floor for a drink. My wife asked for a glass of Cabernet and I ordered Pino Grigio. I had a comp for $15.00 which I assumed would about cover the bill and I gave it to the barmaid. She told me that the total was $26.00 and asked if I was going to pay the balance in cash. I was a bit surprised and she told me that many people had "sticker shock" when they got their checks.

My question is, should have I asked the cost of the wine before I ordered, or should I have assumed that they would have supplied a list of premium wines and their cost? I don’t mind paying what I consider an average price but $15.00 for a glass for Cabernet is more than I would consider “normal”. I also would not be comfortable asking every bartender the cost of a glass of their house wine before I ordered. And there is also the question of the tip – do you tip more to have an expensive glass of wine poured?

What are your thoughts?

[KatieLoeb]

My wife and I enjoy having wine with our meals and we usually order a bottle with our dinner. Normally, we choose from a wine list and know the cost before we decide. We also enjoy having a glass of wine when we are at a bar instead of a mixed drink.

A few days ago, we were in Atlantic City and during a break in the action we decided to stop at a bar off the casino floor for a drink. My wife asked for a glass of Cabernet and I ordered Pino Grigio. I had a comp for $15.00 which I assumed would about cover the bill and I gave it to the barmaid. She told me that the total was $26.00 and asked if I was going to pay the balance in cash. I was a bit surprised and she told me that many people had "sticker shock" when they got their checks.

My question is, should have I asked the cost of the wine before I ordered, or should I have assumed that they would have supplied a list of premium wines and their cost? I don’t mind paying what I consider an average price but $15.00 for a glass for Cabernet is more than I would consider “normal”. I also would not be comfortable asking every bartender the cost of a glass of their house wine before I ordered. And there is also the question of the tip – do you tip more to have an expensive glass of wine poured?

What are your thoughts?

←

Casinos are notorious for this sort of usurious pricing. I'd always ask to see a wine-by-the-glass list (especially in a casino) so I'd know what my options were, both price wise and in terms of varietals and producers. I don't know what I want until I know what I can have. Blindly ordering the "house wine" will often leave you surprised by either poor quality, high prices or both.

[SBonner]

Here in Vancouver a "decent" wine by the glass will range from $6.95 to $12.95 in most restaurants. When I develop wine lists I try to keep all of the wines at below $10CDN per glass. This is based on Vancouver prices and the outrageous prices charged by the Government Liqour stores where we have to buy wine. When travelling I usually back off paying more than $15 per glass unless it is something really interesting. I will however pay more for wine flights.

Cheers,

Stephen

Vancouver Canada

Edited February 27, 2006 by SBonner (log)

[Marmish]

I guess it comes down to whether you are more uncomfortable asking how much the wine is beforehand, or paying a larger than expected bill afterwards.

[detlefchef]

I'd just ask to see the wine list. That way, not only to you avoid paying too much (or at least being surprised by the price), but you can avoid a bad wine.

As far as what the high end should be, I like the fact that higher end wines are being offered BTG. When my wife and I go out, we're good for one bottle max. The problem is, I usually want a white with the first course and a red with the second. If all the cool stuff is only sold by the bottle, you're kind of stuck. So I'm more than happy to pay the money to try a glass of really nice wine.

Now, if some casino wants to sell me Blackstone Merlot for $15/glass, on the other hand... That's not very cool.

[dinwiddie]

It really depends on what they are pouring. Knowing the casinos tend to be very expensive in this regard, I doubt that it was something wonderful. However, I have no problem paying $15 (or more) a glass for a really good Cab like a Neal, Plumpjack, Pride, or even a Simi Landslide, but I do have a problem paying that much for a glass of Pinot Grigio considering that they are never that expensive. Of course, you aren't going to see those wines by the glass in a casino, you'd have to go to a good wine bar or restaurant to do so.

Edited February 28, 2006 by dinwiddie (log)