The Science Behind Legs
When wine coats the glass, alcohol evaporates faster than water from the thin film. This creates a difference in surface tension, pulling wine upward along the glass and forming droplets that then fall back down under gravity. This is the Gibbs-Marangoni effect.
What Legs Tell You
- Thick, slow-moving legs — higher alcohol and/or higher sugar content
- Thin, fast-moving legs — lower alcohol, drier wine
- Many legs — generally higher alcohol concentration
What Legs Don't Tell You
Despite popular belief, legs do not indicate wine quality, age, or body in any meaningful way. A high-alcohol wine from an ordinary vineyard will show more prominent legs than a refined low-alcohol Burgundy Premier Cru.
Why Legs Are Discussed
Legs became part of wine culture through the mistaken belief that they indicate quality. While they can hint at alcohol and sugar levels, relying on nose and palate is far more informative for assessing a wine.