Wine cooperatives: South Tyrol and Italy at the top of the world according to “Weinwirtschaft”

Terlano, a jewel of South Tyrol and among the first wineries to recognize the aging potential of great white wines, and Cavit, the Trentino giant which, with 5,250 winegrowers, manages more than 6,000 hectares of vineyards, representing 60% of the region total vineyard area, are respectively the best wine cooperatives in the world according to the 2026 competition organized by the German magazine “Weinwirtschaft” (as anticipated here). However, the full ranking published today also recognizes many leading Italian wine cooperatives, which, it is worth remembering, account for half of both European and Italian wine production.
In the global ranking, among the top 20 cooperatives, as already mentioned, the French cooperative Plaimont follows Terlano and Cavit on the podium, taking third place. In position No, 5, Cantina Kurtatsch comes, another outstanding South Tyrolean winery. South Tyrol is also represented in positions No. 9, NO. 10, and No. 13 by Cantina Andriano, Cantina Merano, and Cantina Bolzano respectively (together with Terlano, these wineries are also ranked as the 5 best cooperatives in South Tyrol, a region that has long enjoyed a dedicated ranking due to the importance and excellence of wine cooperation there). Another South Tyrolean winery, Tramin, rounds out the list of the world top 20 cooperatives.
Looking instead at the Italian ranking (from which South Tyrol is excluded), Cavit naturally takes position No. 1. Joining it on the national podium, there are Cva Canicattì, one of Sicily largest wine cooperatives, and Cantina Valpolicella Negrar, a benchmark producer of Amarone della Valpolicella and other wines from the area. In place No. 4, there is Citra from Abruzzo, while position No. 5 goes to another Sicilian cooperative excellence, Settesoli, whose 5,700 hectares of vineyards stretch from vines rooted just steps from the sea near Menfi to vineyards overlooking Selinunte, Europe largest archaeological park, and not only. Position No. 6 is occupied by La Guardiense from the Sannio region, while place No. 7 goes to Cantina Colli del Soligo, a historic producer in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco area. For position No. 8, one returns to Sicily with Cantine Ermes, a cooperative that started in Gibellina which today operates, through owned facilities and partnerships, in Puglia, Abruzzo, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Lombardy, and Lazio (thanks to the recent operation which involved Gotto d’Oro, ed). Completing the Italian “top 10”, there are Cantina dei Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano, in No. 9, the leading and largest producer in the prestigious Morellino di Scansano area of the Maremma, and Cantina Frentana, another historic name in Abruzzo wine, in position No. 10.
To compile the ranking, wines from 106 cooperatives worldwide were evaluated, representing 636 labels across various categories, from “entry-level” to premium wines. All samples were assessed blind by an independent panel of industry experts using the international 100-point scoring system. To determine the final ranking, the scores of each cooperative five highest-rated wines were combined, producing the overall score for the cooperative. The result places South Tyrol and Italy firmly at the top of the global wine cooperative landscape.

Focus - The “Top 20” of world cooperatives according to “Weinwirtschaft”
1. Kellerei Cantina Terlan
2. Cavit
3. Plaimont
4. Alliance de Vignerons Bourgogne Beaujolais
5. Kellerei Cantina Kurtatsch
6. Marrenon
7. Weingärtner Cleebronn-Güglingen
8. Cave de Tain
9. Kellerei Cantina Andrian
10. Kellerei Cantina Meran
11. Weinbiet Manufaktur
12. Sasbacher Winzerkeller
13. Kellerei Bozen
14. Weinmanufaktur Stuttgart
15. Lauffener Weingärtner
16. Sieur dʼArques
17. Badischer Winzerkeller
18. Estandon
19. Burkheimer Winzer am Kaiserstuhl
20. Kellerei Cantina Tramin

Focus - The best 5 cooperatives in South Tyrol
1. Kellerei Cantina Terlan
2. Kellerei Kurtatsch
3. Kellerei Cantina Andrian
4. Kellerei Cantina Meran
5. Kellerei Bozen

Focus - Le best 10 cooperatives in Italy
1. Cavit
2. CVA Canicattì
3. Cantina Valpolicella Negrar
4. Citra Vini
5. Cantine Settesoli
6. La Guardiense
7. Cantina Colli del Soligo
8. Cantine Ermes
9. Cantina Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano
10. Cantina Frentana