Definition: Cooperative

A group of producers who collaborate by pooling their winemaking, marketing and transport facilities, etc., with profits distributed in proportion to each member's contribution. Today, wine cooperatives and other winegrowers' associations play a significant role. For example, there are more than 1,200 cooperative wineries in France, which produce more than half of the wine produced in the country. State-of-the-art facilities, impeccable winemaking under the guidance of skilled oenologists and modern marketing methods are leading some cooperatives on the road to success.