What's the indentation in the bottom of a wine bottle for?

Question

Someone told me it's called a punt. Is that true?

Answer 1

This is not completely true, but there is actually quite a bit of truth to it.
Although, I've found that the punt depth is actually more of a representation of how much pride the producers take in what they've created. A winemaker who grows his own grapes, harvests them and then takes his creation all the way to bottle will most likely be more proud of what he eventually bottles. He will want to put it in a nice package (deeper punt) which is a reflection of that pride.
A large scale negociant who buys mass quantities of finished juice and only bottles and markets the product will be more likely to put the juice in a cheap bottle (less punt depth) so he can sell it quickly. He's more concerned with business issues like cash flow.
Actually, a lot of the less expensive wines sold at Trader Joe's are of this type.

Here is a funny link you can check out. This guy went to the market to conduct his own scientific study!

http://www.itchysquirrel.com/

Answer 2

1. In some wine (sparkeling wine) second maturation occurs natrually within the bottle. By this process the residue and fragments of dead yeast settles down in the bottom of the bottle. If the bottom is flat then the precipitate will settle all around the bottom but due to indentions the residue settles down at the corners hence when we pour wine then the residue does not mix with the wine and is gets stuck in between the indentions so preventing the spoiling of wine. 2. It also helps to give strength to the bottle.

Answer 3

I don't know if I agree with Way out West. A bigger indentation allows the package to be bigger. This decision is made entirely by marketing people these days, not by winemakers. The general shape of the wine bottle is several hundred years old, and once had a lot to do with the way these bottles were made, one at a time, by glassblowers. Today the bottles are mass-produced and could be just about any shape.

Also consider that with champagne or any sparkling wine the bottle has to hold more pressure, and the indentation strengthens the bottle (there is something similar in the bottom of soft drink cans!)

Answer 4

Actually the larger indentation indicts a wine with more tannins that is meant to be stored for a longer period of time. It prevents the sediment from collecting entirely on the bottom.