Rice, the white gold of Piedmont
‘A piece of the Mekong Delta transplanted into the heart of Europe’: for Sebastiano Vassalli, this is the Piedmont of the rice fields, nestled between three cities steeped in ancient history: Vercelli, Novara and Biella. Today, Vercelli is recognised as the 'European capital of rice' and, together with the provinces of Novara, Biella and Alessandria (Casale Monferrato area), forms the beating heart of Europe's largest rice-growing region.
From this 'chequered sea', where 9 traditional varieties are grown, comes Italy's only rice PDO, Riso di Baraggia Biellese e Vercellese, which encompasses prized varieties such as Arborio and Carnaroli, cultivated in the unique clay soils at the foot of the Alps.
This heritage makes Piedmont the leading region in Italy and Europe for rice production, accounting for around half (50%) of the entire national output. This agri-food excellence takes Piedmont to the world, promoting traceability, food safety and unparalleled quality.
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