While dining with MiniMe and I Noticed, we discussed clever uses of recycled glass. As we admired our wine bottle turned drinking glass, MiniMe got thinking. “If they serve the water in old wine bottles, I wonder what they serve the wine in.” Although old water bottles might have been more apropos, they actually served the wine in good, old-fashioned wine glasses.
As MiniMe continued to rave about the water glasses, I began to wonder why wine bottles are concave on the bottom. I Noticed was not sure, however, MiniMe thought it might be so one could put a finger there while pouring the wine. I wasn’t sold on this theory and MiniMe suggested I ask the server. I did and he didn’t know, although, he did suggest MiniMe’s theory, then suggested we ‘google’ it. “What did we do before google?” I Noticed asked. “I referred to encyclopedias. I would go home, look in the encyclopedia and most likely not find an answer. Which explains a lot – I had a lot of unanswered questions as a child,” I replied.
We googled it and quickly learned nobody really knows why. There are a variety of theories surrounding why and many seem plausible (captures sediment, stability, large punt = good wine, keeps the bottom from scratching surfaces, etc.), however, most are without merit. Also without merit, but with a great name, was MiniMe’s pouring theory, commonly known as the Proctologists Grip – best used when drinking assidic wines.
