has body. Some are thin and light, others are middle of the pack, while some are voluptuous and full. And in this magical world, thankfully all bodies are treated as equal and appreciated for their diversity and individuality.
Interestingly, even wine has ‘body parts’. You often hear people talk about the legs of the wine….do you know what that means? The legs are the rolling down streams of the wine that flow on the inside of the glass after you swirl the wine and then hold it still. Wine legs are an example of a fancy physics phenomenon called the Gibbs-Marangoni Effect. It is basically the result of fluid surface tension caused by the evaporation of alcohol. In general, the higher the alcohol, the more legs you have. It is also found true for sweet wines, as you will notice the legs flow slowly due to the increased viscosity. Contrary to what many people may believe, it is not a reflection of the quality of the wine whatsoever. So if you did not really know what the legs of wine were, well, now you do.
Other, more general terms are used when referencing wine as well that connect to the body of the wine. A thin wine, believe it or not, is not always a desirable thing. Thin wines can, at times, lack the depth, concentration, and the unctuous mouth feel many crave when they savor their sips, especially when served alongside powerful food. Think Napa Valley Cabernet with beef tenderloin, and you get how big and bigger become friends. However, thinner, lighter bodied wines have their proper time and place and are sometimes perfect for enjoying with lighter fare and delicate flavors. Poached halibut drizzled with a lemon and chive vinaigrette paired with a glass of Pouilly-Fume? Don’t mind if I do.
My wish would be if people could see each other more like we do our wine. Be more than just OK with differences, variations, and uniqueness. Celebrate light, medium, and full bodies and love them all for their personality and individuality. So I say, lets all raise a glass and toast to being everything but ordinary. Cheers!