# Wine Bottle Bases **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [December 19, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-bases/280676 "2004-12-19T20:07:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fat\_Marrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ebca7d/32.png) [@Fat\_Marrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fat_Marrow)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-bases/280676/1 "2004-12-19T20:07:42Z")
The bases of wine bottles are generally indented, however certain wines have deeper indents than others. We’ve been told that the deeper the indent, the better the quality of wine and from what we’ve seen, this appears to be true. Is this myth or truth? In either case, why are the bottles indented at all? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-bases/280676/2 "2004-12-19T20:12:53Z")
According to the fine people at [um, here](http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/11/08/1099781308828.html?from=storyrhs&oneclick=true): > [@](#): > > The indent you see on the base of most wine bottles is called a punt. It collects the sediment in old reds and makes decanting easier; it strengthens a champagne bottle which has to withstand 4.5 atmospheres of internal pressure; it aided the stacking of inverted bottles in olden times; and the earliest bottles were more stable than if they had flat bases, which tended to be a bit wonky. Increasingly these days, the punt is for appearance. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-bases/280676/3 "2004-12-19T20:17:36Z")
You should have just _guessed_ that Cecil commented on this one. [Why do some wine bottles have indented bottoms?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990305b.html) Moved this one to Comments on Cecil’s Columns. **samclem** GQ moderator \*unfortunately, Cecil didn’t answer the “quality” part of your question. I have no doubt you will get an answer. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-bases/280676/4 "2004-12-19T20:32:08Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > \*unfortunately, Cecil didn’t answer the “quality” part of your question. I have no doubt you will get an answer. [Itchy Squirrel’s Investigation:](http://www.itchysquirrel.com/) > [@](#): > > Price of bottle = (Dimple depth in mm + £3.49) / 4.3144 ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-bases/280676/5 "2004-12-19T20:45:50Z")
Technically it’s a myth, but for all intents and purposes, there is truth to it. Cecil’s answer is partly true, but any somewhat experienced wine buyer should know that all those (standard sized) wine bottles, no matter how tall or short, thin or fat, deep or shallow punt, are 750 ml. You’ll find all kinds of facts about how the punt strengthens the bottle, and again this is partly true (it definitely does add stability to the bottle, especially while running on a bottling line), but that’s not necessarily why you’ll find a better wine in a bottle with a deeper punt. Winemakers like to ‘showcase’ their better wines. It’s all marketing. So, a better wine is worthy of better packaging, and then, a heftier price tag. They’ll go for the expensive, rare, European bottle, the finest grade cork, the best tin capsule with a fancy logo, the nicest looking paper stock, elaborate label design, and so on. That fancy European bottle (that costs more) usually has a deeper punt, better coloring, less flaws in the glass, etc. The wine industry is very slowly realizing (after the past couple of years and a major juice glut) that all the fancy packaging isn’t always necessary. So now more than ever you can find a very good wine, in less expensive packaging. When the overall cost of goods comes down, so does the consumers price (think Two Buck Chuck.) Overall, a nice package might indicate that the wine your buying could be something special (or at least better than average), but it’s definitely not something to base your purchases on. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-bases/280676/6 "2004-12-19T21:59:53Z")
> [@psycat90](#): > > Overall, a nice package might indicate that the wine \*\*your \*\*buying could be something special (or at least better than average), but it’s definitely not something to base your purchases on. Grrrr, _you’re_. And that’s one of my biggest pet peeves, too. :smack: Check out [this website](http://pweb.netcom.com/~lachenm/puntFAQ.html) for what looks like a pretty good FAQ on punts. ---
**Author:** ![wireman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d07c76/32.png) [@wireman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireman)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-bases/280676/7 "2004-12-25T10:53:55Z")
> [@psycat90](#): > > Grrrr, _you’re_. And that’s one of my biggest pet peeves, too. :smack: > > Check out [this website](http://pweb.netcom.com/~lachenm/puntFAQ.html) for what looks like a pretty good FAQ on punts. I think find the “always done them that way” argument to be overused. Punting occurs on many (if not most) jars and bottles, though to a lesser extent (in both foreign and domestic jars) than wine. Examples include Kraft Dressing, Vietnamese hot sauce, dog yummies (in a plastic jar), spray cans. Plastic Soda bottles have a different indention pattern, than glass (lightly punted) bottles. Moreover most Perfume bottles are punted. I vote for stability in the fact it exists, and the depth of the punt, allows the wine maker to sell more bottles of less wine. Best