Some wines become special because of the person behind them. We had the pleasure of welcoming Francesca Seralvo first hand wine maker of Tenuta Mazzolino to Carne & Cucina, where he personally shared her family’s wines and the story of this remarkable estate. Tasting Camarà with him made its place, philosophy and beautiful simplicity come alive.

Tenuta Mazzolino is a small family estate in Corvino San Quirico, in Lombardy’s Oltrepò Pavese, among the rolling hills south of Pavia and the River Po. Although it is in northern Italy, the estate has a deep French soul. Francesca’s grandfather dreamed of creating a little corner of Burgundy in Italy, planting Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on the area’s pale clay and limestone rich soils.

In 1999, after reading about the talented Burgundy based oenologist Kyriakos Kynigopoulos in Le Figaro, the family contacted him and invited him to the estate. He brought Burgundian knowledge and precision to Mazzolino, helping shape its distinctive meeting of Italian terroir and French winemaking tradition. Today, Francesca leads the estate alongside winemaker Stefano Malchiodi, with Kynigopoulos continuing as consultant oenologist. 

What does Camarà mean?

Camarà takes its name from the small local hamlet and vineyards where its Chardonnay is grown. It is therefore not a fantasy name the label connects the wine directly to its place of origin. Tenuta Mazzolino’s modern labels are designed as individual works of art, expressing the personality of each wine while giving this historic estate a fresh, contemporary identity.

How is it made?

Camarà 2024 is 100% Chardonnay, produced from estate vineyards cultivated according to organic farming principles, with natural grass cover and no chemical fertilisers.

The grapes are picked slightly before full ripeness to retain their natural freshness and acidity. They are softly pressed, then fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel. The wine remains in stainless steel for approximately four months, followed by two months resting in bottle.

There is no oak ageing. This is important because it allows the Chardonnay itself not butter, vanilla or toast from barrels to remain at the centre of the wine.

Old World or New World Chardonnay?

This is unmistakably an Old World Chardonnay. It is fresh, restrained and made for the table, rather than being a rich, heavily oaked New World style.

Expect white peach, lemon and grapefruit, acacia flowers and a delicate grassy-herbal note, followed by a clean, lightly mineral and savoury finish. It has enough gentle texture to feel satisfying, but the bright acidity keeps every sip fresh. The estate describes it perfectly as “the bottle that finishes in ten minutes.”

At Carne & Cucina, I would love it with a delicate seafood pasta, crudo or a creamy risotto the wine’s acidity refreshes the palate without overpowering the dish.

If you enjoy Camarà, discover Tenuta Mazzolino Terrazze Pinot Noir, also available at Alessa Vino. Terrazze is the red companion to this story: Pinot Noir grown in the same Italian hills, shaped by the estate’s Burgundian inspiration. Camarà shows the fresh, unoaked face of Chardonnay; Terrazze reveals the delicate red-fruited elegance of Pinot Noir.