Cascina Alberona
Riserva Alberona Carnaroli Classico 24 mesi
Japonica Rice
Riserva Alberona Carnaroli Classico 24 Mesi is a white rice produced by the Italian company Cascina Alberona in Mortara, in the Lomellina area of Lombardy. It represents a limited selection of the farm’s production, grown exclusively from controlled and certified Carnaroli Classico seed, bearing the Carnaroli da Carnaroli Pavese designation.
Its distinctive feature is 24 months of aging in its husk, in temperature-controlled silos on the farm. Careful grain selection and prolonged aging contribute to greater resilience during cooking, reduced stickiness, and an improved ability to absorb the flavors of other ingredients.
It is characterized by elongated, compact grains that retain their shape and firmness, with a pronounced rice flavor. During cooking, it releases the starch needed for a creamy finish while the grains remain clearly defined.
Producer
Cascina Alberona is an Italian family farm in Mortara, in the Lomellina area of the province of Pavia, Lombardy, specializing in rice cultivation and processing. It operates as part of Azienda Agricola Ferraris Luigi, active since 1987, and today Luigi Ferraris is joined in the family business by his sons, Mattia and Marco.
The farm continues the Ferraris family’s agricultural tradition, cultivating approximately 130 hectares, where it grows rice, maize, and poplar trees. Particular attention is paid to seed selection, with rice varieties including Carnaroli Classico, Baldo Classico, S. Andrea Classico, Arborio, and Originario. Crop rotation, green manuring, and winter flooding of the rice fields help maintain soil fertility and reduce the need for chemical inputs.
A distinctive feature of its production is its own rice mill, where the rice is husked, milled, sorted, and packaged. Modern optical sorting is combined with restored whitening machines more than fifty years old, which gradually remove the outer layers of the grains while limiting heat buildup. Its flagship product is Riserva Alberona, a limited selection of Carnaroli Classico rice aged for 24 months in temperature-controlled silos to improve its ability to retain its structure during cooking and reduce stickiness. The range also includes risotto mixes, soups, flours, maize and rice pasta, biscuits, and craft beer.