Tears (legs)

Tears, also called legs, refer to the rivulets that run back down the wall of the glass after the wine is swirled. They arise from the Marangoni effect, driven by the differing evaporation of alcohol and water that alters surface tension. Slow, thick tears indicate a higher alcohol and sometimes sugar content, not a direct guarantee of quality. Their observation supplements the visual examination without amounting to a decisive judging criterion.