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. [1] The company is privately held by descendants of the founders. [2] It is best known for its non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider and its apple juice. [2]
Stepheno Martinelli emigrated in the late 1850s from Switzerland to California and moved to his brother Luigi's farm in Watsonville. [3] 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. [3] The company was founded in 1868 in the Pajaro Valley by the two Martinelli brothers. [3]
Stepheno previously had experience making champagne in France. The recipe won a gold medal at the 1890 California State Fair. [4] As of 2021, it is a fifth-generation family operated business. [3]
Martinelli's has also produced a sparkling hard cider. [1] They also have several other brands of juices. There is a street in Watsonville that bears the Martinelli name.