Here’s a tidbit for wine lovers to share at a Superbowl party. Just for kicks.

Have you ever noticed the concave indentation on the bottom of some wine and champagne bottles. The one a savvy waiter puts her thumb in when gracefully pouring a glass of your chosen libation. It’s called the punt. But it has nothing to do with a fourth and long yardage play. There is no consensus explanation for its purpose. The more commonly cited explanations include:

• It is a historical remnant from the era when wine bottles were free blown using a blowpipe and pontil. This technique leaves a punt mark on the base of the bottle; by indenting the point where the pontil is attached, this scar would not scratch the table or make the bottle unstable.
• It had the function of making the bottle less likely to topple over—a bottle designed with a flat bottom only needs a small imperfection to make it unstable—the dimple historically allowed for a larger margin of error.
• It consolidates sediment deposits in a thick ring at the bottom of the bottle, preventing much/most of it from being poured into the glass;
• It increases the strength of the bottle, allowing it to hold the high pressure of sparkling wine/champagne.
• It accommodates the pourer’s thumb for stability and ease of pouring.
• An indication of wine quality (the deeper the punt, the better the wine).

Did you know this? Do you have anything to add? Please let me know in comments.