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San Pellegrino (also S. 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 originate from a layer of rock 1,300 ft (400 m) below the surface, where limestone and volcanic rocks impart unique minerals and trace elements.[1] San Pellegrino is owned by Nestlé.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 to great depths of over 700 m (2,200 ft) where it begins its long subterranean journey to an aquifer.
During this process, the water is mineralized and bicarbonatized by contact with the rocks and is heated by geothermal gradient until reaching the springDuring 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" water.[2] 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 1980s, 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 75 cl format reached US$10 in New York City restaurants, and 65,000 bottles are sold every day in the city.Due to its premium price, San Pellegrino has become fashionable 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, many shops and retail outlets in the United States charge a premium on the water. However, in the European countries, it is remarkably cheaper, costing just under GB£0.90 (ca. US$1.57) for 750 ml, and GB£0.49 (ca. US$0.86) for 500 ml.
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.
