why do wine bottles have a cavity in the bottom?

Question

I know that champaign bottles do this for pressure but why wine?

Answer 1

It's called a punt. It's unique design allows for every last drop to pour out of the bottle, I believe.

Answer 2

The depression in the bottom of a wine bottle is called the punt.

A punt, also known as a kick-up, is the term used to refer to the dimple at the bottom of a wine bottle. There is no consensus as to the reason why wine bottles today have punts, though everyone seems to be adamant that their explanation is the correct one. The more commonly cited explanations are:


The punt as a historical artifact
They are an historical remnant of old-fashioned glass-blowing techniques
They once had the function of making the bottle less likely to topple over. A bottle designed with a flat bottom only needs a small imperfection to make it unstable. In the past, it may have been safer to give the bottle a dimple to allow for a margin of error
They once had (and may still have) the function of strengthening the bottle, particularly useful in the case of sparkling wine

The punt as having a function
Sediment deposits at the bottom or side of the bottle (depending on how the wine was stored), which the punt can help to consolidate
They allow bottles of sparkling wine to be turned upside-down and then stacked (depending on their shape)
They can make the bottle look bigger
They lessen the chance for breaking bottles when cases are stacked on top of one another

Answer 3

There are many believable explanations why wine bottles have punts, and it is a question that often comes up when wine is being discussed.

However - there is no single reason that everyone agrees on. You do get wine bottles without punts and there is a famous Champagne bottle that doesn't have a punt. So it is not essential.

However, punts are traditional. Champagne bottles are stacked with the neck of one tucken in the punt of another. They stand better upright on uneven surfaces, can be used for holding when pouring, channels sediment around the base, gives strength to the bottle and makes it look larger.

Choose which answer you like, but I think the real answer nowadays is 'because it is traditional'

Answer 4

Yes & no! If you are asking it's becoming an urban myth,along with many others I could mention! The indent is to make decanting easier. The "crust" of the wine lodges in the recesses over the years it ages allowing the wine to be decanted clear. White wine doesn't age well and is stored in flat bottomed bottles. "Cheap" red wine doesn't need the indent either, but is often bottled that way to fool us. In short, unless you are willing to pay silly money for a bottle, just don't worry about it!

Answer 5

The depression, or "punt", was designed to help serve wine at its correct temperature. When serving, the "server" will place the middle and index finger "curled" in the punt while the thumb, pinky, and fourth finger wrap around the bottom part of the base of the bottle. This ensures that the correct temperature of the wine itself (red at room temp, and whites and blushes normally chilled) is not effected by the sever's body temperature in thier hands. Hope this helps!

Answer 6

I don't know what the wine makers say, but it allows the bottle to look larger and for it to appear that you are getting more wine than you actually are for the money.

Answer 7

It' called a punt - it makes pouring the wine easier.

Answer 8

This is used to collect sediments from the wine.

Answer 9

i guess it has to do with "good till the last drop" and ensuring that the last drop actually makes it into a cup...LOL

Answer 10

I heard it makes them stronger. We wouldn't want them to break now would we!