What is the cone-shaped indentation in the bottom of a bottle called and what is its purpose?
This cone-shaped indentation is called a “punt”. This tradition seems to go back to the earliest days of bottle winemaking, long before the bottles were widely used for wine. One theory is that early glass blowers discovered that a deep indentation made a stronger bottle than a simple round or flat bottomed carafe. Other experts speculate that the indentation reflects the shape of the rod used to hold the bottle in place while it was being blown. Alternative theories are available, for instance, the fact that the crease around the punt does a great job of collecting sediment. This prompts the assumption that the wine bottle makers intended it that way. One thing is certain, there is no real need for the punt in modern wine bottles. But, as with many other traditions in winemaking, for example the natural cork, tradition is important part of marketing commercial wine and a lot of winemakers feel vaguely uneasy if they are not given what they are accustomed to!
