The blond soft drink taking the world by storm is a native of the Ossola Valley. Crodino, the popular aperitif, was invented in 1964 in Crodo upon the initiative of Piero Ginocchi, an entrepreneur from Parma and owner of Società Anonima Terme di Crodo.
Until then, the factory in Crodo, which had already been operating for about thirty years, only bottled mineral water and a handful of beverages exploiting the renowned springs of the Antigorio Valley. Crodo water is known for its considerable beneficial and therapeutic effects and is used as a mineral water remedy, as it has been shown to be effective against illnesses and ailments of the stomach and intestine.
Crodino was formulated by Maurizio Gozzelino, a wine expert from Cuneo, and was made for the first time in 1965 in a batch of over 50 thousand bottles. The recipe is a secret still today. But the known ingredients include vanilla, orange zest, absinthe, ginger, cloves and coriander. It is made by adding Crodo-Lisiel mineral water to this mix of herbs, spices and roots, and the final step is ageing in oak barrels, where the soft drink rests for six months.
Crodino production soon grew considerably, thanks in part to its large advertising campaigns: everyone in Italy remembers the evening adverts on Carosello, a few made by the famous director Roberto Gavioli and starring the actress of international fame, Brigitte Bardot.
Today, visitors can learn about the history of Crodino and its factory by visiting the Piero Ginocchi research centre, financed by the industrialist Piero Ginocchi in 1982 and headquarters of the association of the same name, which focuses on studying, researching and engaging people in cultural activities. The research centre, located in Crodo, also has a library and a theatre.
CONTACTS
Centro Studi Piero Ginocchi
Via Pellanda 15
28862 Crodo (VB)
info@centroginocchi.it