Ubiquitous yet mysterious, that seemingly innocuous dent stands at the collision of history and hearsay. One theory is that the punt is merely a remnant from a time when bottles were hand blown. Others contend that the dimple makes the bottle more stable and less likely to topple. Or that the depression collects sediment, preventing gook from reaching the glass. Or that the cleft increases the bottle’s strength, allowing it to hold the high pressure of sparkling wine and champagne. Or that the recess permits bottles to be stacked end to end. Or that the concavity enhances the wine’s color by working like a lens. Or that the punt just provides a comfy place for the pourer’s thumb. Cynics contend that the punt just takes up space, thereby giving customers the mistaken impression that they’re getting more than they are. Pragmatists assume that the dimple merely serves to hold bottles in place as they whip by on conveyor belts studded with pegs during the filling process. According to Danish legend, the punt was part of a secret language servants used to signal their masters about the reliability of their guests.
