Co-operative (co-op)

Group of vinegrowers who commonly share winemaking equipment and cellar facilities. Large co-ops often employ a team of winemaking and sales professionals.

The vinegrowers bring their grapes to the co-op for processing, are paid according to the quantity they deliver, and later share in the profits generated by sales. The system is particularly useful in regions where there are many growers with small vineyard holdings, and it is not economically viable for each to have winemaking facilities.

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