Legs, or tears, are the viscous droplets of wine that drip down the sides of the glass after it has been swirled. They happen when the alcohol in the wine evaporates with movement and the remaining liquid collects on the glass surface creating drops that flow back down into the glass. This is called the Gibbs-Marangoni Effect. Heavy, slow legs can indicate a wine that is higher in alcohol or has residual sugar. However, wines served at a cooler temperature tend to have faster legs than if served warmer. Keep in mind that legs are not an indicator of the quality of the wine… so always smell and taste!
Author: Maytte Rivera
