Governo all’Uso Toscano is an Italian term defined by Nicolas Belfrage MW (2003) as ‘a slight re-fermentation caused by pouring a finished wine over partially dried grapes.’

Burton Anderson (1990, p.199) described ‘governo’ as ‘adding dried grapes (or their rich musts) to the newly fermented wine to induce a secondary fermentation. To make young Chianti sweeter and rounder with a prickle [or] to reinforce wines for ageing.’

See also: Cacc’e Mmitte di Lucera DOC.

Bibliography

Burton Anderson, The Wine Atlas of Italy (Mitchell Beazley, 1990).

Nicolas Belfrage MW, From Brunello to Zibibbo—The Wines of Tuscany, Central and Southern Italy (2nd edition, London, 2003), p.463.