Wine legs, also known as “tears” or “church windows,” are the droplets that form on the sides of a wine glass after swirling the wine. They’ve long intrigued wine drinkers, but what do they actually indicate?
What Causes Wine Legs?
Wine legs result from the interaction between the alcohol and water content in the wine, combined with surface tension and evaporation. When you swirl the glass, alcohol evaporates faster than water, causing the remaining liquid (mainly water and wine compounds) to flow back down the glass in the form of droplets.
Do Wine Legs Indicate Quality?
Contrary to popular belief, wine legs are not a sign of wine quality, sweetness, or age. Instead, they are more closely related to the alcohol content. Wines with higher alcohol levels will tend to have more pronounced legs, as alcohol creates stronger surface tension.
What Do They Really Tell You?
- Alcohol content: More legs generally indicate a higher ABV (alcohol by volume), as alcohol evaporates faster than water, leading to visible tears.
- Viscosity: Fuller-bodied wines, like Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon, tend to have thicker legs due to their alcohol and glycerol content, giving them a richer mouthfeel.
While wine legs may look elegant in a glass, they aren’t a reliable measure of wine quality or taste. They’re simply a physical phenomenon, most noticeable in wines with higher alcohol.
