Wine-making Associations
The structure of viniculture in Austria ist characterized by a rather small average size of producers (around 1,7 hectares). Therefore, the production capacity of an individual wine grower hardly justifies intense marketing efforts.
Many Austrian wine growers, especially those who do not have facilities of their own, supply their grapes to co-operatives, grape purchasers or other wine growers.
In addition, local or regional trademark association and co-operatives have been founded in recent years, often upon the initiative of a few ambitioned wine producers. In most cases, they endeavour to produce one or several wines typical of the region and to market them under a common brand name (trademark).
Typically, harvesting and fermenting is done by the individual wine growers. A jury then examines the wines and establishes whether they fulfill the quality criteria and can carry the common trademark. Normally, marketing acitvities of the trademark co-operative are also covered jointly by the members of the trademark group.
