San Pellegrino
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
San Pellegrino (also known as S. Pellegrino, SANPELLEGRINO, S. PELLEGRINO, or frequently misspelled Sam Pellegrino) is a carbonated mineral water, produced and bottled at San Pellegrino Terme, near Milan, Italy. San Pellegrino's sources are three deep springs which emerge at about 70°F (22°C). The waters come from a layer of rock 1,300 feet (400 metres) below the surface, where limestone and volcanic rocks impart unique minerals and trace elements.[1] San Pellegrino is owned by Nestlé.
Contents |
[edit] Bottling information
San Pellegrino water is produced through a filtration process that takes place near the Alps, giving the water a pure flavor and a balanced mix of minerals. Bottled in San Pellegrino Terme, it is then shipped to most countries in Europe, North America, Japan, the Middle East and Australasia.
The geological and morphological structure of the town of San Pellegrino Terme show the 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 down to great depths (over 2,200 feet) and begins a long underground journey, into an aquifer.
During this process, the water is then mineralized through contact with the rocks and is heated by geothermal gradient until reaching the spring.
[edit] History
During the 600 years of San Pellegrino production, numerous important events have happened.[2] In 1395, the borders of the town "San Pellegrino", where the water is bottled, were made. This is the start of the production of the water. In 1509, Leonardo da Vinci, an examiner of the water and who dedicated a treatise to it, visited the town to try this "miraculous"[3] water. 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 sale figure of the water.
In 1904, the Bergamo—San Pellegrino railway line was constructed. Bergamo is a larger, nearby town. The railway line constructed would make it easier for persons travelling to the town for the spring, which has been regarded as a tourist attraction. Just four 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. It was a soda that had San Pellegrino as the majority of the ingredient, but with concentrated orange juice added.
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 becomes San Pellegrino SpA. Later in the year, it was the leading beverage company in Italy, demonstrating the company profits. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the water continued to expand and grow. Later in 1988, San Pellegrino was the first Italian water to be exported to France. In 1999, San Pellegrino became part of Nestlé. Just four years later in 2003, a 75cl format reached $10 in New York City restaurants, and 65,000 bottles are sold every day in the city.
[edit] Popularity
Due to its high price, San Pellegrino is often associated with celebrities and expensive restaurants. Some celebrities, including Geri Halliwell and Will Smith, have been known to like the drink. It is also known and seen in fashion magazines, too. Similar to Evian, most shops and retail outlets in the United States will often charge a premium on the water because it must be imported. However, in the European countries, it is remarkably cheaper, costing just under £0.90 (about $1.57) for a 750ml bottle. A smaller, 500ml bottle costs about £0.49 (approximately $0.86).
San Pellegrino also produces carbonated beverages in various flavors. These include Aranciata (orange), Limonata (lemon), Sanbittèr (bitters), and Chinò (chinotto). The costs of such drinks are about the same as a 500ml of San Pellegrino, as given above. However, different retail outlets will charge premiums and taxes on such drinks.
[edit] Typical analysis
Below is a typical analysis for a bottle of San Pellegrino at 250 millilitres. The analysis shows the elements and other chemicals added to San Pellegrino.[4]
| Compounds and elements |
Chemical formula |
Concentration in a 250ml bottle (milligram per liter) |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfate | SO42- | 443.8 |
| Bicarbonate | HCO3- | 237.9 |
| Calcium | Ca2+ | 185.6 |
| Chloride | Cl− | 59.0 |
| Magnesium | Mg2+ | 52.5 |
| Sodium | Na+ | 35.0 |
| Silica Residue | SiO2 | 7.9 |
| Strontium | Sr2+ | 2.7 |
| Potassium | K+ | 2.5 |
| Nitrate | NO3- | 2.0 |
[edit] References and footnotes
- ^ — FineWaters
- ^ — San Pellegrino's Website on History Section
- ^ — San Pellegrino Description
- ^ — Typical Analysis from a bottle of San Pellegrino
