🍷 Punt (bottle)
The inward dent in the bottom of a bottle that makes it stronger.
A punt is the inward-curved base of a wine bottle. Turn the bottle over and you see a dome-shaped dip.
Why is it there? It is thought to make the bottle stronger: a base with a dip withstands pressure better. This matters most for sparkling wine, where pressure inside the bottle is high. A punt can also collect a little sediment so it does not reach the glass when pouring. It helps the bottle stand level and keeps it steady in transport.
Historically the dip came from glassblowing: the maker attached the bottle to a metal rod by its base, and a mark was left there. The shape was kept later because it proved useful. Punt size varies, from nearly flat to very deep. Depth does not tell you anything about the wine's quality, though it is sometimes treated as a sign of a "solid" bottle.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Punt (bottle) → kind of → 🍷 Wine bottle ← packed in ← 🍷 Wine
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Sparkling wine
- Part of
- 🍷 Wine bottle
Frequently asked questions
What is a punt on a wine bottle?
The inward-curved base of the bottle.
What is a punt for?
It strengthens the bottle, especially for sparkling wine, and traps a little sediment.
Does punt depth show wine quality?
No, it is not a sign of quality.
Similar
🍷 Bocksbeutel · 🍷 Bordeaux bottle · 🍷 Burgundy bottle · 🍷 Flute bottle (Hock) · 🍷 Fiasco (bottle) · 🍷 Standard wine bottle (0.75 l)