San Pellegrino is the green-bottled water you see on nearly every fine dining table, and its story goes back further than almost any other name in this category. The water flows from a single source in the Italian Alps, near the town of San Pellegrino Terme in the province of Bergamo, and the town’s water industry traces back to 1395. Leonardo da Vinci reportedly visited in 1509 to sample the water himself and later wrote about it. The company that bottles it today, Sanpellegrino S.p.A., was founded in 1899 and has been part of Nestlé since 1997.
That long history is part of why San Pellegrino gets treated differently from a can of LaCroix or Bubly. It isn’t purified water with flavor added. It’s a true natural mineral water, meaning the minerals in every bottle come from the rock the water passes through underground, not from an ingredient list.
What San Pellegrino Actually Is
San Pellegrino’s water travels through about 400 meters of limestone and volcanic rock before it reaches the surface, picking up calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and sulfate along the way. That gives it a total dissolved solids (TDS) reading of roughly 915 to 930 milligrams per liter, which puts it in the moderately mineralized category, noticeably higher than Topo Chico or standard seltzers.
One thing worth clearing up: San Pellegrino is not sodium free. It carries about 33 milligrams of sodium per liter naturally. While this is very low for a mineral water, it isn’t the zero-sodium profile you find on LaCroix or Bubly cans. If you are on a strict low-sodium diet, keep this in mind.
The pH sits around 5.4, and the carbonation is added during bottling rather than occurring naturally at the source.
The Four San Pellegrino Product Lines
- S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water: The original, plain, unflavored version. Zero calories, zero sugar, just carbonated mineral water.
- S.Pellegrino Essenza: Flavored mineral water line. Carbonated mineral water and natural flavors, nothing else. Zero calories, zero sweeteners.
- Sanpellegrino CIAO! (previously Momenti): A newer line built with real fruit juice and a small pinch of Sicilian salt. Lower calorie (5 to 10 calories per can) and zero grams of added sugar.
- San Pellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks (Aranciata, Limonata, etc.): Proper Italian sodas. Made with real sugar and fruit juice concentrate, carrying up to 29 grams of sugar per can. These are sodas, not seltzers!
San Pellegrino Flavors at a Glance
| Line | Flavor Options | Calories | Sugar | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Mineral Water | Plain (Unflavored) | 0 | 0g | None |
| Essenza | Cherry & Pomegranate, Blood Orange & Black Raspberry, Tangerine & Wild Strawberry | 0 | 0g | None |
| CIAO! (Momenti) | Limoncello, Blood Orange, Cherry, Lime, Peach | 5–10 | <1g (natural) | None |
| Italian Sparkling Drinks | Aranciata (Orange), Limonata (Lemon), Pompelmo (Grapefruit) | 120–150 | 25–29g | None |
S.Pellegrino Essenza Flavors, Reviewed
The Essenza line pairs carbonated mineral water with natural fruit and botanical extracts.
Dark Morello Cherry & Pomegranate
This flavor pairs a deep, slightly tart cherry note with the natural sweetness of pomegranate. It’s built to sit alongside red meat or richer dishes, which is exactly how Sanpellegrino markets it. It regulates the acid-mineral balance while keeping you hydrated, with a sweet and sour taste that is very appetizing to the palate.
Blood Orange & Black Raspberry
Blood Orange & Black Raspberry is citrus-forward with a berry note underneath, light enough to work with lighter meals like fish or a salad. It has a light bubbly texture that makes you feel like you are consuming real fruit juice, yet it fulfills the hydrating needs of your body cleanly.
Tangerine & Wild Strawberry
The mouthwatering flavor of tangerines and wild strawberry makes this a perfect lunchtime drink. It is a vibrant blend of citrus and soft berry flavor, and carries an intense aroma. Many people prefer it for its less fruity, water-like profile that remains dry and refreshing.
Sanpellegrino CIAO! & Momenti Flavors
These juice-sweetened versions carry very few calories (5-10 per serving) and zero added sugar.
- Limoncello: The newest flavor, built to echo the taste of the Italian lemon liqueur without the alcohol or sugar. It launched at the start of 2026.
- Blood Orange: Leans tart with a slightly bitter edge, closer to the actual blood orange fruit than candy.
- Cherry: Straightforward and sweet, an easy entry point to the juice-infused lineup.
- Lime: Sharp and zesty citrus, which works fantastic as a low-calorie mocktail base.
- Peach: Soft, round stone fruit flavor that is much less aggressive than the citrus selections.
San Pellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks (Full Sugar Sodas)
These are classic Italian sodas made with real sugar and juice concentrate. They carry 120 to 150 calories and up to 29 grams of sugar per can.
- Aranciata (Orange): Citrusy, sweet orange soda with carbonated volcanic mineral water.
- Limonata (Lemon): A very sharp, tart Italian lemonade that is intensely refreshing.
- Pompelmo (Grapefruit): Real grapefruit juice combined with signature fine carbonation.
San Pellegrino vs Perrier
Both are Nestlé-owned, naturally sourced European sparkling waters, but they taste very different.
San Pellegrino’s bubbles are smaller and smoother, and the water carries a noticeably higher mineral content (TDS ~915-930 mg/L), giving it a heavier, rounder mouthfeel. Perrier is carbonated at its French source (Vergèze), and its bubbles tend to read as sharper and more aggressive by comparison.
Is San Pellegrino Sparkling Water Good for You?
PFAS. Consumer Reports tested a dozen sparkling water brands in 2020, including San Pellegrino, and found trace PFAS at 0.31 parts per trillion, well below the 1 ppt level the organization flagged as a concern, and far below the older EPA advisory limit of 70 ppt. San Pellegrino came out on the cleaner end.
Minerals. The calcium and magnesium can contribute to daily mineral intake. If you’re active or sweat a lot, moderately mineralized water is a great lighter alternative to standard hydration drinks.
Teeth. The carbonation makes it mildly acidic. San Pellegrino’s natural mineral content helps buffer this acidity compared to a plain seltzer, protecting your enamel.
Infants. S.Pellegrino is not suitable for infants under 12 weeks old, as their kidneys aren’t developed enough to process mineralized water. This does not apply to adults or pregnant women.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Pellegrino sparkling water good for you?
The plain mineral water and Essenza lines are zero calorie, zero sugar, and free of artificial sweeteners, making them a reasonable everyday choice for most people. The CIAO! line carries a small number of calories from real fruit juice, and the Italian Sparkling Drinks like Aranciata and Limonata are full sugar sodas, not the same category at all.
Is San Pellegrino naturally sparkling?
No. The water itself is naturally mineralized as it moves through underground rock, but the carbonation is added during bottling rather than occurring on its own at the source.
Does San Pellegrino sparkling water have sugar?
The plain mineral water and Essenza flavors have zero sugar. The CIAO! line has zero grams of added sugar but does carry a small amount from real fruit juice. The Italian Sparkling Drinks, like Aranciata and Limonata, are made with real sugar and are not sugar free at all.
Does San Pellegrino sparkling water have caffeine?
No. None of San Pellegrino's mineral water or flavored sparkling water products contain caffeine.
Does San Pellegrino sparkling water have alcohol in it?
No. This question usually comes up because of the CIAO! Limoncello flavor, which is named after the Italian liqueur but contains none of it.
Is San Pellegrino sparkling water gluten free?
Yes. As a mineral water with natural flavors added, there's nothing in the ingredient list derived from gluten containing grains.
Who owns San Pellegrino sparkling water?
Sanpellegrino S.p.A., which has been part of Nestlé since 1997, when Nestlé's Perrier Vittel division acquired the company. Sanpellegrino also owns Acqua Panna, Levissima, and a few other Italian water brands.
Where does San Pellegrino sparkling water come from?
A single natural spring source in San Pellegrino Terme, in the Val Brembana valley at the foothills of the Italian Alps, in the province of Bergamo.
What is the pH and mineral content of San Pellegrino sparkling water?
The pH sits around 5.4, and total dissolved solids run roughly 915 to 930 milligrams per liter, putting it in the moderately mineralized range, with natural sodium around 33 milligrams per liter.
Is San Pellegrino sparkling water safe during pregnancy?
There's no specific warning against pregnant women drinking San Pellegrino. The one labeling caution the brand gives is about infants under 12 weeks old, whose kidneys aren't developed enough to process a moderately mineralized water, which is a different situation from an adult drinking it. If you have specific concerns, it's worth checking with your own doctor, since this isn't medical advice.