Some restaurants will allow wine enthusiasts to bring their own bottles when they dine. They usually pay corkage fees for the privilege.FORT LAUDERDALE -- Some restaurants that cater to customers who are knowledgeable about wine allow them to bring along their own bottles when they dine. Because the restaurant then loses the price of selling the wine, the customer will often be charged a corkage or service fee.

Policies vary, so individuals who wish to bring wine to a restaurant should call to check the rules ahead of time.

At The Grateful Palate, a former yacht-provisioning business that a few years ago became a full-service restaurant and wine bar, charges a $25 corkage fee. The fee is waived, however, if the customer also buys a bottle from the restaurant’s own list of 300 selections “Most people who bring their own wine do it for special occasions,” says sommelier David Hults. “Some may have a bottle they’re dying to try, but they don’t cook at home. And collectors often prefer to drink their own wines.”

At Hi-Life Café, a Zagat-rated restaurant that features creative American-style cooking, the official corkage fee is $20. But owner Carlo Weis often waives it for regular guests, or if diners also buy something from the restaurant’s own list. “Normally, people who bring their own wines are connoisseurs who have a cellar or huge fridge at home,” he says. “I see people come in with very old bottles and handle them like diamonds.”

Aaron and Kirsta Brauberger, owners of Market 17, a restaurant that specializes in locally procured foods and humanely raised meats and poultry, are both sommeliers who understand that customers with keen interest in wines may want to bring their own vintages. The restaurant charges a $20 corkage fee if the wine is not on its list, and $30 if it is. The fee is waived if a customer also buys a bottle from the restaurant. “A guest may bring in a bottle that’s rare or hard to find,” says assistant manager Karen Quispe. “The owners might open the bottle themselves and decant it for the guest. They’re always happy to try something different and encourage people to learn more.”

Capital Grille, an upscale steakhouse chain, has an inventory of 5,000 wines. A customer who brings in his or her own bottle pays a corkage fee of $20, and the wine must be one that is not on the restaurant’s list. No more than two bottles per reservation can be brought in. Capital Grille also offers lockers that customers can rent for wine storage, but the wine must be purchased from the restaurant.

It’s not just upscale restaurants that allow customers to bring in wines. At Panaretto Pizza, guests who pay a $20 corkage fee can enjoy their own bottle with the pie of their choice.

For those who truly love wine, the privilege of bringing a bottle to a restaurant can be an important criterion in making a dining choice. “If a restaurant doesn’t allow me to pour my own wine, I usually don’t go there,” says collector Jerry Rosenthal, owner of Tire Hut. “They’re too fussy for me.”