Wine terms - Punt and Ullage
May, 2014 Filed in: Wine terms
This month we would like to get real “geekie” and discuss 2 terms that will likely endear you to many at your next get-together with colleagues. Just kidding!
The first is “punt”, and no we don’t mean the football term. In this case it refers to the indent or dimple on the bottom of a wine bottle. As wine makers, we have come to hate wine bottle punts because when using a stem bottle filler the bottom will keep slipping off the punt.
Why is there a punt on the bottom of the bottle? Well, it originates back to the day when wine bottles were made by glass blowers and the punt increased the strength of the bottle and also allowed it to stand upright better. Nowadays with mechanical bottle production, the punt is no longer necessary; however it is a gimmick to make the bottle more attractive or differentiated. In, other words it serves no purpose. So, here is a tip, if you are to give away any wine bottles, give the bottles with huge punts away first.
Ullage is another geekie term. It is essentially the unfilled space in any container. For wine makers it is the space, or air between the bottom surface of the cork and the surface of the wine. The term also applies to any other liquid that is stored or sold in a container. For wine makers it is important to fill your bottles and leave an ullage equal to the width of 2 fingers. Of course you do not want to have too much ullage as oxygen present in the headspace can result in undesirable oxidation. Ullage is necessary to allow for normal expansion and contraction of the wine.
The first is “punt”, and no we don’t mean the football term. In this case it refers to the indent or dimple on the bottom of a wine bottle. As wine makers, we have come to hate wine bottle punts because when using a stem bottle filler the bottom will keep slipping off the punt.
Why is there a punt on the bottom of the bottle? Well, it originates back to the day when wine bottles were made by glass blowers and the punt increased the strength of the bottle and also allowed it to stand upright better. Nowadays with mechanical bottle production, the punt is no longer necessary; however it is a gimmick to make the bottle more attractive or differentiated. In, other words it serves no purpose. So, here is a tip, if you are to give away any wine bottles, give the bottles with huge punts away first.
Ullage is another geekie term. It is essentially the unfilled space in any container. For wine makers it is the space, or air between the bottom surface of the cork and the surface of the wine. The term also applies to any other liquid that is stored or sold in a container. For wine makers it is important to fill your bottles and leave an ullage equal to the width of 2 fingers. Of course you do not want to have too much ullage as oxygen present in the headspace can result in undesirable oxidation. Ullage is necessary to allow for normal expansion and contraction of the wine.