San Pellegrino

San Pellegrino (also S. Pellegrino) is a carbonated mineral water, produced and bottled at San Pellegrino Terme (Bg), near Milan, Italy. The water originates from a layer of rock 1,300 ft (400 m) below the surface, where it is mineralized from contact with limestone and volcanic rocks. It emerges from three deep springs at a temperature of about 70°F (22°C). . The surrounding area is highly favorable for the formation of the mineral water basin from the replenishment point, located on the Dolomite range. The water then seeps to great depths of over 700 m (2,200 ft) where it begins its long subterranean journey to an aquifer.

San Pellegrino is owned by Nestlé and exports bottles to most countries in Europe, North America, Japan, the Middle East and Australasia.

History


During the 600 years of San Pellegrino production, numerous important events have happened. In 1395, the borders of the town "San Pellegrino", were drawn, marking the start of its water industry. Leonardo da Vinci visited the town in 1509 to examine and try its "miraculous" water. He later wrote a treatise on the subject. In 1782, the water was analyzed for the first time. The results show that the water is remarkably similar to that of today. In 1899, 35,343 bottles were produced, 5,562 of which were exported, the first recorded sale figures. Nine years later, in 1908, San Pellegrino was exported to the main European cities, as well as Cairo, Tangiers, Shanghai, Calcutta, USA, Brazil, Peru and Sydney.

Several years later in 1932, a variant of San Pellegrino was introduced to the market: Aranciata (orangeade). It was a soda that had San Pellegrino as the majority of the ingredient, but with concentrated orange juice added. Today, San Pellegrino also produces carbonated beverages in other various flavors: Limonata (lemonade), Sanbittèr (bitters), and Chinò (chinotto).

Almost 30 years later in 1968, San Pellegrino appeared on the front cover of the British Sunday newspaper The Observer. On April 20 1970, the official name of the company became San Pellegrino SpA. Later in the year, it was the leading beverage company in Italy, demonstrating the company profits. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the water continued to expand and grow. Later in 1988, San Pellegrino was the first Italian water to be exported to France. In the same year, San Pellegrino became part of Nestlé. Just five years later in 2003, a 75 cl format reached US$10 in New York City restaurants, and 65,000 bottles are sold every day in the city.