Mendoza vineyard contractors transform harvest shares into wine

In Mendoza, Argentina, a specialized agricultural cooperative has developed a business model that transforms harvest percentages into finished wine products. Founded in 2010, the Cooperativa Agropecuaria de Provisión, Transformación, Comercialización de Contratistas de Viñas y Frutales Ltda. was established by vineyard contractors seeking to increase profitability.

Under the local contracting system, workers manage vineyards alongside owners and receive between 15% and 18% of the harvest in addition to a small monthly fee. Rather than selling this percentage for immediate cash, the cooperative members use it to produce their own wines, including varieties such as Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda, and Chenin.

After receiving training from the Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura, the group initially produced up to 4,000 liters of wine using portable equipment at various farms. A national government credit in 2013 allowed the cooperative to acquire a winery in El Espino. This enabled the launch of their own branded label, ‘El Contratista’, which reached formal markets with professional bottling and labeling in 2020.