Martinelli's
{{short description|California based beverage company}}
File:USA-Watsonville-Martinelli's-1.jpg
Martinelli's is the brand name of S. Martinelli & Company, a non-alcoholic cider and juice company founded in 1868 and located in Watsonville, California.{{Cite web|last=Pereira|first=Alyssa|date=2018-09-26|title=Martinelli's, long-known for non-alcoholic cider, celebrates 150 years by bringing back hard cider|url=https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/Martinellis-hard-apple-cider-150-years-watsonville-13260762.php|access-date=2021-11-04|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}} The company is privately held by descendants of the founders.{{cite web|last=Dannelke |first=Lenora |title=S. Martinelli & Co.: Fruit Punch |url=http://www.beverageworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37165:s-martinelli-a-co-fruit-punch&catid=64&Itemid=176 |publisher=Beverage World |accessdate=26 December 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707231632/http://www.beverageworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37165%3As-martinelli-a-co-fruit-punch&catid=64&Itemid=176 |archivedate=7 July 2011 |date=8 December 2009 |url-status=dead }} It is best known for its non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider and its apple juice.
History
Stepheno Martinelli emigrated in the late 1850s from Switzerland to California and moved to his brother Luigi's farm in Watsonville. Stepheno initially was in the soda business and realized he could make money by creating hard ciders from the apples grown on his brother's farm. The company was founded in 1868 in the Pajaro Valley by the two Martinelli brothers.{{Cite web|last=Guerrero|first=Susana|date=2021-11-03|title=Martinelli's sales were plummeting until a viral trend saved it|url=https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/Martinellis-apple-juice-having-moment-16552320.php|access-date=2021-11-04|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}
Stepheno previously had experience making champagne in France. The recipe won a gold medal at the 1890 California State Fair.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-28|title=Martinelli's Hard Cider Roots|url=https://www.martinellis.com/company/martinellis-hard-cider-roots/|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Martinelli's|language=en}} As of 2021, it is a fifth-generation family operated business.
Martinelli's has also produced a sparkling hard cider. They also have several other brands of juices. There is a street in Watsonville that bears the Martinelli name.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.martinellis.com/ Official website]
Category:Companies based in Santa Cruz County, California
Category:Watsonville, California
Category:Swiss-American culture
Category:Drink companies based in California
Category:American companies established in 1868
Category:Food and drink companies established in 1868
Category:1868 establishments in California
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