Why the different bottle shapes

[corinth]

I have a question?

What is the significance of the different shapes of wine bottles?

Is there some significance to the fact that some have that indentation at the bottom while others do not?

Is there some historical significance to the above?

 

[jamesngalveston]

in the old days, diffrent shapes designated diffrent areas....
a lot of people beleive that the punt was actually left over when wine bottles were all blown by hand, they would leave the punt when it was cut from the tube..
you can do a search on google.

 

[DoctorCAD]

The squared sholder look of the bordeax (claret) bottle signifies stronger wines. The soft, sloped sholder of the burgundy bottle is for softer wines.

The punt is (or was) for the yeast to settle down around so it doessn't mix back into the wine when pouring.

At least that is what I was taught in Wine 101!