Riso Acquerello
Riso Acquerello is a family-owned Italian agricultural cooperative that cultivates, processes, and packages premium aged Carnaroli rice using a patented germ re-integration process at its Tenuta Colombara estate, serving professional chefs, gourmet consumers, and premium retailers across more than 70 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersLivorno Ferraris, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Riso Acquerello does
Riso Acquerello is an Italian agricultural cooperative that cultivates, processes, and packages premium aged Carnaroli rice at the Tenuta Colombara estate in Livorno Ferraris, Vercelli, in the Po Valley rice belt. Founded in its current single-variety form by Piero Rondolino in 1991 and operated by the family-owned Rondolino Società Cooperativa Agricola (S.C.A.), the company controls the full production cycle across 200 hectares of cultivation and 20 controlled processing steps. Its core technical differentiator is an internationally patented germ re-integration process combined with helix (elica) whitening, which restores the nutritional profile of brown rice while preserving the cooking characteristics of white rice; raw rice is then aged for at least one year (and up to eight years for the ultra-premium tier representing 1% of production) in refrigerated silos below 15°C to stabilize starch and enhance flavor absorption.
The business operates a premium-positioned, multi-channel distribution model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via shop.acquerello.it with free shipping across multiple package configurations (250g to 2.5kg), a global network of specialty retailers and restaurants spanning more than 70 countries, and direct supply to professional kitchens. Pricing is unit-based and tiered by aging duration, with 8-year aged variants commanding roughly €40/kg versus standard 1-year aged SKUs around €6-9/kg. Acquerello targets three customer segments - Michelin-grade professional chefs (primary), gourmet home consumers, and premium retail - and reinforces brand equity through named endorsements from Alain Ducasse, Thomas Keller, and Gianfranco Vissani, alongside participation in Altagamma's Icons of Italy luxury showcase and Slow Food educational programming at the on-site Learning Center. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is privately held with 11-50 employees and has historically supplemented capital expenditure with FEASR European rural development grants (€1.36M in 2016 and €557K in 2018).
Riso Acquerello firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Riso Acquerello
- Legal name
- Rondolino Società Cooperativa Agricola (Rondolino S.C.A.)
- Website
- https://acquerello.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Riso Acquerello is a family-owned Italian agricultural cooperative that cultivates, processes, and packages premium aged Carnaroli rice using a patented germ re-integration process at its Tenuta Colombara estate, serving professional chefs, gourmet consumers, and premium retailers across more than 70 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Riso Acquerello industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Aged Carnaroli Rice
- NAICS
- Rice Milling (311212), Rice Farming (11116)
- SIC
- Grain Mill Products (2040), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rice & Grain Processing (milling, polishing, parboiling, blending) (AFAKABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rice Farming (AFAGAAAC), Organic Row Crop Farming (Grains, Oilseeds, Pulses) (AFAGAKAA)
Keywords
Where Riso Acquerello is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Livorno Ferraris
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Riso Acquerello business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Rice Product Sales: Direct sales of Acquerello Carnaroli rice in various packaging sizes (250g, 500g, 1kg, 2.5kg) through e-commerce and retail channels. Premium pricing for 8-year aged varieties.
- E-commerce Direct Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales through shop.acquerello.it with free shipping, offering various bundle configurations and the premium 8-year aged rice.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Acquerello 12 cans x 500g (1-year aged) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Acquerello 3 cans x 500g (8-year aged) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Acquerello 6 cans x 1kg (1-year aged) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Acquerello 20 cans x 250g (1-year aged) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Acquerello 6 cans x 250g (1-year aged) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Acquerello 4 cans x 250g (1-year aged) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Acquerello 4 packs x 2.5kg (1-year aged) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | All the Colors of Acquerello (Book + rice) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Riso Acquerello product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Riso Acquerello cultivates, mills, ages, and packages premium Carnaroli rice at its Tenuta Colombara estate in Livorno Ferraris, Italy. The rice is whitened using a traditional helix method, aged for at least one year (up to 8 years) in refrigerated silos, and finished via a patented germ re-integration process that restores the nutritional profile of brown rice while preserving the cooking ease of white rice. Products are sold in 250g, 500g, 1kg, and 2.5kg packages through e-commerce, retail, and chef/restaurant channels, with guided estate tours offered as a complementary experiential offering.
Product overview
Riso Acquerello is a premium Italian rice company offering a single core product line: aged Carnaroli rice. The main product is Acquerello rice aged for at least one year, with a premium '8 Years Aged' variant representing only 1% of production. The company pioneered the patented germ re-integration process that combines nutritional benefits of brown rice with the cooking ease of white rice. Products are sold in various package sizes (250g, 500g, 1kg, 2.5kg) primarily through online shop and select retailers. Complementary offerings include the 'All the Colors of Acquerello' cookbook and guided tours of Tenuta Colombara estate.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Acquerello Invecchiato 8 Anni: Premium aged rice product aged for 8 years, representing only 1% of production. Marketed in limited edition cans, including special edition for Piero Rondolino's 80th birthday.
Products and services
- Acquerello Carnaroli Rice (Standard - Aged 1 Year) Premium Carnaroli rice aged for at least one year in temperature-controlled silos below 15°C, processed through the patented germ re-integration and helix whitening methods across 20 controlled steps. Sold in 250g, 500g, 1kg, and 2.5kg packages to consumers, chefs, and premium retailers.
- Acquerello Invecchiato 8 Anni (Aged 8 Years) Ultra-premium Carnaroli rice aged for 8 years in refrigerated silos, representing only 1% of total production. Marketed in limited-edition 500g cans for the most demanding professional kitchens and gourmet consumers, with unparalleled cooking consistency and flavor absorption.
- All the Colors of Acquerello (Book) A book about rice inspirations that combines Acquerello rice with culinary storytelling, available as a standalone purchase or bundled with rice products.
- Tenuta Colombara Guided Tours Guided two-hour tours of the historic Tenuta Colombara estate including the Museum of Rice Culture, rice weeders dormitory, rural school, artisan workshops, and the Acquerello production process, priced at €20 per person and including a 250g tin of Acquerello rice.
Quantifiable outcome
- Shelf life of 84 months due to nitrogen pressurization packaging
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Riso Acquerello
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Riso Acquerello technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Riso Acquerello partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Lamborghini Lounge New YorkflagshipHosted 'The Art of Performance' evening event during Icons of Italy, where Acquerello performed live risotto preparation for invited guests, alongside other Italian excellence brands.
- Boffi|DePadovaflagshipHosted Acquerello at their New York showroom during Icons of Italy (April 9-11, 2026), featuring a cocktail event combining luxury design and Italian food excellence.
- AltagammaflagshipFoundation promoting Italian luxury excellence worldwide. Organized Icons of Italy showcase in Manhattan (April 9-11, 2026) featuring 56 Italian brands across fashion, design, food, automotive, jewelry, and nautical sectors. Supported by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ICE-Agenzia.
- Slow Food / University of Gastronomic SciencescoreSlow Food opened the first Learning Center of the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo at Tenuta Colombara in 2004. The Rondolino family hosts students annually to teach rice growing and processing techniques.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Riso Acquerello competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lundberg Family Farms: US family-owned organic and specialty rice producer emphasizing heritage varieties, sustainable farming, and farm-to-table storytelling. Comparable to Acquerello in family ownership, heritage-driven premium positioning, and direct-to-consumer plus retail channel mix, though focused on US-grown rice categories.
- Tilda: UK-based premium rice brand best known for basmati, with selected specialty risotto and pure rice SKUs. Comparable as a premium branded rice specialist selling to gourmet consumers and foodservice in international markets, though its core basmati focus differs from Acquerello's Carnaroli specialization.
Others
- Altagamma Foundation: Italian foundation promoting Made-in-Italy luxury and cultural excellence across fashion, design, food, automotive, and hospitality. Comparable as a strategic ecosystem partner rather than a competitor: Acquerello participates in Altagamma's Icons of Italy activations and is positioned alongside these brands, making Altagamma an adjacent ecosystem participant in Acquerello's premium GTM motion.
Broad incumbents
- SunRice (Ricegrowers): Australia's largest rice company, producing a broad portfolio of branded and bulk rice products for domestic and export markets. Comparable on rice category and global distribution, but operates at much larger commodity scale rather than Acquerello's premium artisanal niche.
- Riso Barilla: Barilla's branded risotto rice line, including Carnaroli and Arborio varieties, distributed through Barilla's global retail and foodservice network. Comparable on Carnaroli risotto rice category, but operates under a much larger packaged-food parent with broader portfolio reach than Acquerello's focused single-vintage estate model.
- Mahatma Rice: Long-standing US rice brand offering a wide range of white, brown, and specialty rice products across mainstream grocery channels. Comparable on rice category and broad distribution, but competes on price and convenience rather than Acquerello's single-estate premium positioning.
- Riso Gallo: One of Italy's largest rice brands, offering a broad Carnaroli and risotto rice portfolio. Comparable to Acquerello on product category and Italian origin, but operates as a mass-market incumbent across mainstream retail rather than the artisanal premium niche.
- Riso Scotti: Major Italian rice company with a wide portfolio of Carnaroli, Arborio, and specialty rice products sold across Italy and internationally. Comparable on category and target market, but competes primarily on volume and price rather than the aged, single-estate artisanal positioning Acquerello occupies.
Emerging players
- Lot 287: US-based premium specialty rice brand marketing single-origin and aged rice to gourmet consumers and chefs. Comparable to Acquerello on the artisan aged-rice concept and chef-driven marketing, though at smaller scale and with different geographic origin.
- Tenuta Castello (Cascine Piemontesi): Italian small-batch artisanal rice producers from the Vercelli/Piedmont region, including Carnaroli-focused estates. Comparable as geographically adjacent artisan rice growers targeting gourmet and chef segments, though with smaller brand reach than Acquerello's 70+ country distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Riso Acquerello social profiles
Digital presenceRiso Acquerello financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Riso Acquerello leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Riso Acquerello funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Riso Acquerello M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Riso Acquerello
What does Riso Acquerello do?
Riso Acquerello cultivates, mills, ages, and packages premium Carnaroli rice at its Tenuta Colombara estate in Livorno Ferraris, Italy. The rice is whitened using a traditional helix method, aged for at least one year (up to 8 years) in refrigerated silos, and finished via a patented germ re-integration process that restores the nutritional profile of brown rice while preserving the cooking ease of white rice. Products are sold in 250g, 500g, 1kg, and 2.5kg packages through e-commerce, retail, and chef/restaurant channels, with guided estate tours offered as a complementary experiential offering.
Is Riso Acquerello a public or private company?
Riso Acquerello is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Riso Acquerello founded?
Riso Acquerello was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Riso Acquerello based?
Riso Acquerello is headquartered in Livorno Ferraris, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Riso Acquerello make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Rice Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Direct Sales.
Who are Riso Acquerello's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lundberg Family Farms and Tilda. Altagamma Foundation is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are SunRice (Ricegrowers), Riso Barilla, Mahatma Rice, Riso Gallo and Riso Scotti. Emerging players are Lot 287 and Tenuta Castello (Cascine Piemontesi).
Does Riso Acquerello have an API?
No public API is recorded for Riso Acquerello.
What industry is Riso Acquerello in?
Riso Acquerello's product category is Premium Aged Carnaroli Rice. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKABAE, Rice & Grain Processing (milling, polishing, parboiling, blending), with a secondary code of AFAGAAAC, Rice Farming. Its NAICS code is 311212 and its SIC code is 2040.