What is the purpose of the dimple at the bottom of some wine bottles?

     This dimple is called a punt or kick up.  In ancient times a wooden tool called a pontil stick was attached to the bottom of the bottle while it was being blown.  When this pontil stick was removed it left an indentation which actually was a good thing because it made the bottle stable when standing upright.  Making the bottom of the bottle completely flat was difficult and when attempted it was found that the bottom turn out to be convex and it would topple over. 

  

     Other reasons suggest the following:

  The punt helps collects the sediment. 

              The punt helps strengthen the bottle.

              It is a perfect spot to place your thumb when pouring wine.

     That was then but what about now.  The wine industry has always been a traditional business with specific marketing techniques and a bottle with a punt makes a great looking bottle.  Tradition may be changing with the new boxed wine or plastic bottles but the punt has been around since the ancient times.  How long will it last…….your guess is as good as mine. 

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Why do wine bottles have different shapes?

     There are many answers and all of them may be correct.  Different wine regions in different countries adopted their own bottle shape, maybe it was partially an economic reason.  It could be that the some bottles shapes were chosen over another because they stack better or possibly it was just for esthetic reasons.  In any case these different bottles shapes help us distinguish the different wine types.  So after many years it has become a tradition.  We are used to seeing German Riesling in long slender bottles or a Cabernet in a Bordeaux bottle.  

      Even the use of colored glass bottles seems to follow this tradition.  Next time your shopping for wine take note of the different colored bottles and type of wine and region they come from, does there seem to be a consistent pattern?  Also notice how boring and difficult it would be to choose a wine if they were all in the same style bottle.  

     There are no hard rules when bottling wine since the bottle shape will not affect the taste.  That’s why some winemakers create a special bottle for some of their wines.  

      Champagne is the only exception since it requires a thicker bottle to withstand the pressure created by the champagne.  So if you’re a home wine maker use whatever bottle you choose for you latest vintage and toast the tradition.   

Visit Twisted Corkscrew for top quality wine accessories.

Valentine Gifts

Valentines Day is right around the corner. It’s not always easy to choose the right gift but we have done our best at Twisted Corkscrew to give you a large selection of wine accessories to choose. We have the Lover Boy and Lover Girl metal wine caddies which will show your fun side, just add a nice bottle of wine to toast the evening. Our Celebration hand painted wine glasses are cute and funny as well as memorable. Take a look at our complete line of Ravenscroft wine glasses and decanters, these are top quality. We carry all types of corkscrew and wine openers including Laguiole Waiters Corkscrews in case you really want to impress a wine lover. Our special for January is the Artful Winemaker which is the perfect gift for those wanting to get into wine making. Whatever you choose don't wait until the last minute, express shipping could drive the price of your items out of reach. Follow Twistedcorks on Twitter.

Cyber Monday Specials

Cyber Monday is here, so now is the time to buy while stock levels are high. Check TwistedCorkscrew floating shopping cart for Cyber Monday specials. Free Shipping on all Cyber Monday purchases over #75.00 . Other discount code (cheer2010) available for all purchases over $75.00 thru 10 Dec 2010.

Cork Cage Bottle Stoppers and Ornaments are another way of holding on to your wine memories - storing the cork as a keepsake! Convenient too… just remove the cork from your bottle of wine, and place the cork right into the stopper or ornament. This small accessory (wine barrel, pineapple, wine bottle) makes a big presentation with all the same meticulous hand-crafted metal detail as the original Cork Cage. Decorate your tree with these unique cork cage ornaments, your friends will all want one. So pick one up for a friend, these are great Holiday gifts that will be cherished forever.

Holiday Shopping

Tis the season to splurge on a gift for a friend or loved one. There are some amazing deals on the internet so start surfing to find that wine aerator, painted wine glass or some really unique stocking stuffer. Right now stores are well stocked but don't wait to the last minute or you could be out of luck. Twisted Corkscrew carries a large selection of wine accessories plus gourmet classic accessories, party supplies for home or for a picnic. Take a look at our top quality line of Sutherland picnic basket and backpacks, you won't be disappointed. We have recently added cheese trays and peppermills for those gourmet cooks and party givers. Stop by and visit our store TwistedCorkscrew and let us know what you like or don't like about our website. Send us an email and we will send you a discount code for your next purchase.

A Good Chablis

A real Chablis is a white wine from France. When I was younger and ask for a glass of white wine at a restaurant they would bring me a glass of domestic Chablis. As I know now that wasn’t Chablis but the domestic version of the real thing and not in a good way. Chablis is named after a town in France located in the white wine district just over 100 miles from Paris. Most real Chablis is a little pricey for the average budget these days but Trader Joe’s is selling a real 2008 Chablis for $7.99, yes that’s not a typo. The wine is produced by Jacques Bourguignon and it’s very good at an amazing price. 2008 is touted as a excellent year for Chablis so here’s your chance to take advantage of the bargain price and pick up a few bottles.
The Chablis from Trader Joe’s fresh, crisp wine with a refreshing acidity. This should go well with any seafood. So pick up some Chablis at Trader Joe’s then visit TwistedCorkscrew for your wine accessory. We carry many products to enhance your wine experience like Decanting accessories, Ravenscorft Crystal Wine Glasses and Decanters and those crazy wine bottle holders or the decorative metal wine caddies. Please send us any comments or recommendations you have for wine or wine accessories.

Wine Accessories

Wine is becoming more and more popular. Besides the health benefits people are excited to pair wine with their favorite food. The Food Channel has opened people’s eyes on their options for cooking at home plus all of the shows promote wine with the meals. TwistedCorkscrew.com does it’s best to provide the widest selection and best prices on corkscrews, wine openers, decanters, wine glasses, personal wine maker and more. Right now we are running an unadvertised special on waiter corkscrews for 15% off. This is on all waiter’s corkscrews including Laguiole, La Vigne, Le Thiers and VacuVin. We carry a large selection of funny and quirky wine holders and metal wine caddies which are excellent gifts for any occasion. If you need a top quality picnic basket are backpacks you must check out our great selection with a lifetime guarantee. I could go on forever about our product line including uncorking machines, gourmet classic accessories but check it out for yourself.