Are You Smarter Than A Tortus?

June 16, 2010

The dent or dimple on the bottom of a wine bottle is called a punt or a 'kick-up'. Although there isn't a consensus on how or why the punt was created, we do know that it allows the bottle to be more stable at rest, it increases the strength of the bottle under pressure, and it collects and concentrates the sediment that results from the wine-making process. The punt gives you more wine and less other stuff in your wine glass. So just like in football, if you have "punted" too often, you're likely to lose. Or at least feel pretty bad the next day!

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