Yesterday, the list of the most overused phrases in the American Lexicon was released yesterday, and "perfect storm" was #1 followed by "post 9/11" and "surge". If they ever make such a list for the wine world, "legs" is going to wine by a landslide! If I had a nickel for.... damn, now I'm doing it. We are a society that loves their cliches, but really, a wine's "legs" has got to go. If I go to one more dinner party where someone swirls their wine and then holds it up to the light and comments on the legs (or tears), I cannot be held responsible for my actions.

Alcohol and water have dramatically different evaporation rates and surface tensions. High surface tension will repel low surface tension (physics, sorry). Capillary action (physics again) causes wine to try and climb the side of the glass, thinning out. The alcohol in this film evaporates, making it more watery, thus with higher surface tension. This film is then repelled farther from the rest of the wine, which has a higher percentage of alcohol and lower suface tension. This process continues until gravity overcomes all and the weight of the liquid cascades back down. An easy proof is swirl your wine until you see "legs" then put a book over the top of the glass and repeat. No "legs". The book leaves the alcohol no place to evaporate.

So, "legs" have no relationship with quality, or sugar content as some also think. Merely a indicator of alcohol content. I think in this post 9/11 world, we can come up with something a little more relevant to say about our wine. That way I won't have to unlease a perfect storm on someone. Until next time, glasses up.