Wine ‘legs’ are caused by a shockwave in your wineglass Gilaxia/Getty Images
The drops that run down the inside of a glass after wine is swirled – called “legs” or “tears” – are caused by a shock wave interrupting the ring of fluid that sticks to the glass.
We know that a film of wine can flow up the side of a glass after swirling because the alcohol in wine evaporates faster than the water, creating a difference in surface tension that drives liquid upward. But exactly what caused wine tears to form was …
