Two weeks ago we went to an upscale Italian restaurant and ordered a $30 bottle of wine. They came back to say they were out of that wine and were holding a 'substitute' to give us for the same price. I immediately recognized the bottle as $3 wine that you can get at any drug store or grocery. I said we would pick something else.

Today, I was looking at a website for a nice French restaurant to try for the first time and they actually had their wine list with prices on a PDF. There was the same thing, another $3 wine for $28

I am very aware that restaurants mark up wine significantly -- but I never realized to THAT EXTENT. It's like paying $25 for TJ's Two Buck Chuck with your nice dinner. Maybe this is more common that I realize

I am NOT a wine snob. Having inexpensive wine at home as a 'house wine' or 'table wine' is totally fine. I just never expected that restaurants (not Chili's or a burger place) are serving $3 wine or that a mark up of 900% is normal...

So, if you dine out at a nice place and Two Buck Chuck were on the menu @ $25, would you think less of the restaurant?