Why do wine bottles have a large indent in the base? | Notes and Queries

Why do wine bottles have a large indent in the base?

G Day, Crawley, West Sussex

• The large indent in the base of wine bottles is known as a punt. It is intended to strengthen the bottle and not to give the impression that the bottle contains more liquid than it really does.

  David Morgan, Madrid

• To disperse the sediment, and hinder it from rising up when poured.

  Kevan Mayor, London GB

• So that at 9.50pm, just before the off-licence closes, you think you have 2 glasses left in the bottle.Only to discover at 10.01, there is only one.

  Aid Corcoran, Bromley

• Wine bottles used for still wine don't have an indent in the base. However, bottles used for champagne and other sparkling wines do - for two reasons. First, the indent is designed to prevent the bottle exploding. The curved wall of the bottle makes for a very strong structure, and the indent makes the base as strong as the wall. Second, during the fermentation process the bottles are stacked upside down - in order for the solid matter that results from the fermentation to come to rest on the underside of the cork (it is later expelled and the bottle topped up during the degorgement process). The indent allows the bottles to be safely stacked with the neck of one resting on the indent of the bottle below.

  Nigel Shaw, London SW19

• One reason I heard was that it provides a place for light to "sparkle" - and therefore show off the colour of the wine nicely. And while all sparkling wines (as far as I know) have indents, not all still wines (even some fairly decent ones) do - although most do.

  Benjy Arnold, London, UK

• That's what it's for, but what's it called? Well it's one of those things you didn't know had a name. It's called a "kick", or, less often these days, a "punt".

  Garrick Alder, London

• It is to aid with the pouring of the wine when being served at a table for the enjoyment of your guests. The thumb is inserted in the indentation to allow for service to occur at arm's length in order to minimise disturbance.

  Paul, Cygnet Australia