When dining out, have you ever been asked by the waiter, “Would you prefer sparkling or still water?”. Chances are the water offered are either S.Pellegrino or Acqua Panna. With that being said, today we are going to talk about two of the world’s most famous bottled water! Synonymous with gourmet food and wine culture, they are also the preferred choice of many award-winning and Michelin starred restaurants in the world.
1. S.Pellegrino
Origin
Given its strong reputation as fine dining water, S.Pellegrino (and its still counterpart, Acqua Panna) has been producing excellent and fine tasting mineral water since 1899. What is even more interesting is that there are at least 10 minerals found naturally in the water!
Here is a fun fact: Every bottle of S.Pellegrino has come from the same natural spring for the past 600 years!
How did Sparkling Water come about?
It is said that if you drink the water at its purest form, the after taste would be like milk. However, with the addition of CO2, the milkiness disappears and all that is left is the signature crisp taste. In the beginning, the bubbles were added to preserve the natural minerals but customers ended up preferring the taste of carbonated water. This ultimately leads the company to stop selling the non-carbonated version once and for all.
2. Acqua Panna
Hailed as the still water of fine dining, Acqua Panna bottled water is a companion of the finest palates on every table. Bottled at the heart of uncontaminated nature in Tuscany, Acqua Panna needs 13 years to flow through the aquifer and reach the surface at the natural spring where it is bottled without any additional treatment nor filtering.
Here is a fun fact: The Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water sources are located 1128 meter high in the serene Apennines Mountains of Tuscany.
Why good water is important in fine dining?
Just like wine, no water tastes alike. With that said, it is undeniable that fine dining water plays a significant role in the world of gourmet dining. Besides acting as a palate cleanser, still and sparkling water when paired correctly can help to amplify the flavours of a dish without covering them.
The next time you dine out at a restaurant that serves either S.Pellegrino or Acqua Panna, why not give it a try and taste the difference. Book a restaurant here!