Legs in my wine glass…. What does it all mean?

2 minute read

‘Legs’ or ‘tears’ are those provocative streams that run down the inside of your glass. But what are they? Some will try and convince you that they’re the sign of a superior wine- the more ‘legs’ the better, but that’s just an old wives’ tale, so don’t be led astray. All wine has legs, but as opposed to being a measure of quality, legs are simply an indication of two things- alcohol and sweetness. Higher alcohol levels = more legs. The sweeter the wine = slower legs.

She’s got legs, she knows how to use them…

To understand we need to delve into a little science, specifically the Gibbs-Marangoni Effect. The elevator pitch being – legs are the result of fluid surface tension caused by alcohol evaporation. Heat causes evaporation (wine meeting room temperature and its variances) and alcohol evaporates much faster than water. Note- Warm weather and humidity can hasten the evaporation process. So, if it’s a hot summer’s day in Madrid, or a sticky afternoon in Singapore- those legs are gonna be out on show.

Try swirling your wine and you’ll create a translucent film of liquid inside your glass

Take a closer look, and almost instantly the alcohol will start to evaporate, leaving the remaining liquid to ‘tear up’ on the sides of the glass creating ‘legs’. The higher the alcohol- the greater the reaction, which means- more legs. Some folk dismay at the thought of losing precious ABV content- but the loss is negligible- and it may be a good thing, as it allows us to better appreciate the scent of a wine. Sometimes alcohol gets in the way of finding those juicy strawberry or cherry aromas. Note: There is a similar principle with hard liquor- which is why some prefer their scotch with a single cube of ice, to gently dilute that hefty alcohol muscle- letting the bouquet shine.

 

Slow seduction

Slower moving legs are an indication of sweetness. The pure viscosity (body) of a wine is greatly influenced by its sweetness. The higher the sugar content, the more it will cling to the surface of the glass- making those sultry legs noticeably striking. Compare this the next time you sip a Pinot Gris alongside a voluptuous Vermouth or Tokaji.

The Takeaway…

The point to belabour is this- Legs are not an indication of quality. You only need taste a burning hot Zinfandel or a cloying Moscato to know. With all wine, balance is key. Legs, can however, offer a loose heads-up in regard to alcohol and sugar content. At the very least, it’s a mesmeric sight to behold.