A €45 Burgundy sits half-empty on table 12 after your guests finished their meal. You need to account for the entire bottle you open, even if guests don't drink it all. This prevents losing money on every bottle without realizing it.
Why wine at the table is different
Once you open a bottle at the table, you're essentially selling the entire bottle — regardless of how much the guests actually drink. That remaining wine usually can't be sold to other guests, and one of the most common blind spots in kitchen management is underestimating this loss.
⚠️ Note:
Always calculate with the price excluding VAT. Alcoholic beverages carry 21% VAT, not 9% like food.
The cost calculation
For wine at the table, use this formula:
Cost per glass = (Bottle purchase price / Number of glasses per bottle) + any additional costs
💡 Example:
Sauvignon Blanc bottle at the table for €28.00 (incl. 21% VAT):
- Bottle purchase price: €12.00
- Glasses per bottle: 5 glasses (at 150ml)
- Selling price excl. VAT: €28.00 / 1.21 = €23.14
Cost per glass: €12.00 / 5 = €2.40
How many glasses from a bottle?
A standard wine bottle (750ml) yields different numbers of glasses depending on your pour:
- White wine: 5 glasses of 150ml
- Red wine: 4-5 glasses of 150-175ml
- Champagne/prosecco: 6 glasses of 125ml
Check what your standard pour size actually is. Many restaurants pour more generously than 150ml, which affects your calculations.
💡 Example calculation:
Red wine bottle €45.00 (incl. VAT), purchase price €18.00:
- Selling price excl. VAT: €45.00 / 1.21 = €37.19
- 4 glasses per bottle
- Cost per glass: €18.00 / 4 = €4.50
- Selling price per glass: €37.19 / 4 = €9.30
Pour cost: (€4.50 / €9.30) × 100 = 48%
Pour cost for wine at the table
Pour cost is the equivalent of food cost but for beverages. For wine at the table, this runs higher than wine by the glass:
- Wine by the glass: 18-25% pour cost
- Wine at the table: 35-50% pour cost
- Champagne at the table: 30-45% pour cost
Why higher? You've got more risk (entire bottle opened) and less control over portion size.
Include additional costs
Don't forget these costs in your calculation:
- Cork and foil: €0.05-0.15 per bottle
- Glasses (washing and breakage): €0.10-0.20 per glass
- Service costs: more time than pouring beer
💡 Complete calculation:
Wine bottle €35.00 (incl. VAT), purchase price €14.00:
- Bottle purchase price: €14.00
- Cork/foil: €0.10
- 5 glasses at €0.15 extra costs: €0.75
- Total cost: €14.85
Cost per glass: €14.85 / 5 = €2.97
Track it digitally
An app can automatically calculate your wine prices and pour cost. You enter the purchase price and pour size, and it calculates the cost per glass.
This way you immediately see which wines are most profitable and can optimize your wine list accordingly.
How do you calculate the cost per glass of wine at the table?
Determine your purchase price and pour size
Note the purchase price of the bottle and determine how many glasses you typically pour from it. A 750ml bottle usually yields 4-5 glasses of 150ml.
Calculate the basic costs per glass
Divide the bottle's purchase price by the number of glasses. Add any additional costs such as cork, foil, and glass breakage (approximately €0.20 per glass).
Check your pour cost percentage
Divide the cost per glass by the selling price per glass (excl. 21% VAT) and multiply by 100. For wine at the table, 35-50% pour cost is normal.
✨ Pro tip
Calculate the exact pour cost for your 3 most expensive table wines over the next 30 days. If any hit below 30%, you're likely underpricing or overpaying suppliers.
Calculate this yourself?
In the KitchenNmbrs app you can do this in just a few clicks. 7 days free, no credit card.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I calculate with VAT for wine prices?
Yes, but always use the price excluding VAT for your calculations. Alcoholic beverages have 21% VAT. A bottle of €36.30 incl. VAT is €30.00 excl. VAT.
How many glasses do I get from a 750ml bottle?
That depends on your pour size. At 150ml per glass you get 5 glasses from a bottle. At 175ml (which many restaurants do) you get approximately 4.3 glasses.
Why is my pour cost higher for wine at the table?
With wine at the table you open the entire bottle, even if guests only drink 2-3 glasses. The rest usually can't be sold, so your risk is higher than with by-the-glass service.
What pour cost is normal for wine at the table?
For wine at the table, 35-50% pour cost is standard. This runs higher than wine by the glass (18-25%) due to increased risk and less portion control.
📚 Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- Warenwetbesluit Bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen (2024) — Official source
- WHO — Foodborne diseases estimates (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
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