Why Do Wine Bottles Have a Concave Bottom?

The indentation at the bottom of a wine bottle is called a punt. Historically, it helped glassblowers make bottles more stable and smooth out imperfections in the bottom. For sparkling wines, this shape also helps the bottle better withstand internal pressure.

But there’s a popular myth: the deeper the punt, the better and more expensive the wine.

In reality, there’s no direct connection. A producer may use a deep punt simply for design, tradition, or because of the shape of the bottle.