Please explain the theory behind co-ops and how they work.

Found all over the world, winery cooperatives (or co-ops) are jointly owned and operated wineries, so the costs are spread among a group of people. They became widespread in Europe last century as ways for small growers to band together and make and market their own wines. Now they´re becoming more common in the United States, as small winemakers and start-ups join a co-op where space and equipment are shared among the members.