Glossary
Cooperativa
/koh-op-er-ah-TEE-vah/
Winery owned collectively by grape growers.
Full Definition
A cooperativa (cooperative, cantina sociale) is a winery collectively owned by member grape growers who share equipment, facilities, and marketing. Quality varies widely - some cooperatives produce excellent wines at value prices; others focus on volume. Important in regions with small landholdings like Alsace, Trentino, and Languedoc.
Related Terms
See Also
Reference
More terms starting with C
Canopy Management
Techniques to control vine leaf and shoot growth.
Capsule
The foil or plastic covering over a wine bottle's cork.
Carbonic Maceration
Whole-grape fermentation in CO2, producing fruity wines.
Cava
Spanish sparkling wine made by traditional method.
Cellaring
Storing wine under proper conditions for aging.
Chai
French term for an above-ground wine storage building.