The Adega Cooperativa do Fundão wine cooperative is one of the pioneers in the Beira Interior region, having begun operations in 1949 with an intake of around 100 tonnes of grapes. Eleven years later, it was receiving over 1,500 tonnes, and by the early 1990s the figure had reached 4,500 tonnes, evidence of the enthusiastic support the cooperative model garnered from the majority of winegrowers within its sphere of influence. Since then, it has experienced a decline in membership and now has about a fifth of the number it had two decades ago.

Most of its members favour red grape varieties, opting for low-yield, high-quality harvests that enable the cooperative to produce red wines of excellent quality with outstanding value for money.

Though small, the cooperative has successfully kept pace with technological developments and is equipped with the resources needed to make the most of its members’ grapes.

Since the 1980s, it has marketed its wines in both demijohn and bottle with considerable success, particularly on the domestic market. In the 2000s, it began exporting, which at one point accounted for 30% of production. However, the decline in membership has led to a generalised decrease in exports.

The cooperative's wine brands were recently restructured with the creation of an umbrella brand, ‘Adega do Fundão’, which now encompasses the former brands ‘Alpedrinha,’ ‘Cova da Beira’ and ‘Alcambar’. At present, all red, white and rosé wines are sold in bottles or bag-in-box format, with no bulk wine sales.