ITEM
2: MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
As
used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we, us, our and the Company
refer to Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of this Form 10-Q contain
forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Companys business,
and beliefs and assumptions made by management. Words such as expects, anticipates, intends,
plans, believes, seeks, estimates, predicts, potential,
should, or will or the negative thereof and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended
to identify such forward-looking statements. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted
in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to: availability of financing for growth, availability
of adequate supply of high quality grapes, successful performance of internal operations, impact of competition, changes in wine broker
or distributor relations or performance, impact of possible adverse weather conditions, impact of reduction in grape quality or supply
due to disease or smoke from forest fires, changes in consumer spending, the reduction in consumer demand for premium wines, and the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the policies of United States federal, state and local governments in response to such pandemic.
In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic economic
conditions. Many of these risks as well as other risks that may have a material adverse impact on our operations and business, are identified
in Item 1A Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as well
as in the Companys other Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. The forward-looking statements in this report
are made as of the date hereof, and, except as otherwise required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why the actual results could differ materially from those projected
in the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Critical
Accounting Policies
The
foregoing discussion and analysis of the Companys financial condition and results of operations are based upon our unaudited condensed
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these unaudited condensed financial statements
requires the Companys management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues
and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates,
including those related to revenue recognition, collection of accounts receivable, valuation of inventories, and amortization of vineyard
development costs. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be
reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. A description
of the Companys critical accounting policies and related judgments and estimates that affect the preparation of the Companys
financial statements is set forth in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Such policies
were unchanged during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Overview
The
Company, one of the largest wine producers in Oregon by volume, believes its success is dependent upon its ability to: (1) grow and purchase
high quality vinifera wine grapes; (2) vinify the grapes into premium, super premium and ultra-premium wine; (3) achieve significant
brand recognition for its wines, first in Oregon, and then nationally and internationally; (4) effectively distribute and sell its products
nationally; and (5) continue to build on its base of direct to consumer sales.
The
Companys goal is to continue to build on a reputation for producing some of Oregons finest, most sought-after wines. The
Company has focused on positioning itself for strategic growth through property purchases, property development and issuance of the Companys
Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock (the Preferred Stock). Management expects near term financial results to be negatively
impacted by these activities as a result of incurring costs of accrued preferred stock dividends, strategic planning and development
costs and other growth associated costs.
The
Companys wines are made from grapes grown in vineyards owned, leased or contracted by the Company, and from grapes purchased from
other vineyards. The grapes are harvested, fermented and made into wine primarily at the Companys winery in Turner Oregon (the
Winery) and the wines are sold principally under the Companys Willamette Valley Vineyards label, but also under
the Griffin Creek, Pambrun, Elton, Maison Bleue, Metis, Natoma, Pere Ami, Elton, Domaine Willamette and Tualatin Estates labels. The
Company also owns the Tualatin Estate Vineyards and Winery, located near Forest Grove, Oregon. The Company generates revenues from the
sales of wine to wholesalers and direct to consumers.
Direct
to consumer sales primarily include sales through the Companys tasting rooms, telephone, internet and wine club. Direct to consumer
sales are at a higher unit price than sales through distributors due to prices received being closer to retail than those prices paid
by wholesalers. The Company continues to emphasize growth in direct to consumer sales through the Companys existing tasting rooms
and the opening of new locations, and growth in wine club membership. Additionally, the Companys Preferred Stock sales since August
2015 have resulted in approximately 10,000 new preferred stockholders many of which the Company believes are wine enthusiasts. When considering
joint ownership, we believe these new stockholders represent approximately 15,000 current and potential customers of the Company.
Periodically,
the Company will sell grapes or bulk wine, due to them not meeting Company standards or being in excess of production targets, however
this is not a significant part of the Companys activities. The Company had $10,500 in bulk wine sales for the nine months ended
September 30, 2022 and zero bulk wine sales for the same period of 2021.
The
Company sold 127,007 and 145,143 cases of produced wine during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, a decrease
of 18,136 cases, or 12.5% in the current year period over the prior year period. The decrease in wine case sales was primarily the result
of decreased case sales through distributors due to a lack of available product.
Cost
of sales includes grape costs, whether purchased or grown at Company vineyards, winemaking and processing costs, bottling, packaging,
warehousing, and shipping and handling costs. For grapes grown at Company vineyards, costs include farming expenditures and amortization
of vineyard development costs.
At
September 30, 2022, wine inventory included 154,525 cases of bottled wine and 123,543 gallons of bulk wine in various stages of the aging
process. Case wine is expected to be sold over the next 12 to 24 months and generally before the release date of the next vintage. The
Winery bottled 141,619 cases during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Willamette
Valley Vineyards continues to receive positive recognition through national magazines, regional publications, local newspapers and online
bloggers including the accolades below.
Wine
Enthusiast rated the Companys 2020 Riesling with 90 points & Best Buy, and in the Top 100 Best Buy Wines for 2022.
Jeremy
Young from International Wine Report rated the Companys 2019 Bernau Block Pinot Noir 90 points, 2019 Bernau Block Chardonnay 92
points, 2019 Elton Pinot Noir 92 points. The Companys Elton wines the 2019 Florine Pinot Noir 90 points, 2019 Self-Rooted Pinot
Noir 91 points and 2019 Chardonnay 91 points. The Companys Pambrun wines the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon 92 points, 2019 Merlot 92
points and 2019 Chrysologue 91 points. The Companys Maison Bleue wines the 2019 Gravière Syrah 92 points, 2019 Voyageur
Syrah 93 points, 2019 Frontière Syrah 92 points and 2021 Lisette Rosé 91 points.
Impact
of COVID-19 on Operations
The
COVID-19 outbreak in Oregon and other parts of the United States, as well as the response to COVID-19 by federal, state and local governments
have had a material adverse impact on economic and market conditions in the United States. Although most restrictive measures have been
lifted, the COVID-19 pandemic and the government responses to the outbreak presents continued uncertainty and risk with respect to the
Company and its performance and financial results.
We
have not yet experienced significant disruptions to our supply chain network; however, any future restrictions imposed by our local or
state governments may have a negative impact on our future direct to consumer sales.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Revenue
Sales
revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 were $7,602,878 and $7,641,228, respectively, a decrease of $38,350, or
0.5%, in the current year period over the prior year period. This decrease was caused by a decrease
in sales through distributors of $133,386 being partially offset by an increase in direct sales of $95,036 in the current year three-month
period over the prior year period. The decrease in revenue from sales through distributors was primarily attributed to later availability
of new vintage wines compared to the prior year. The increase in direct sales to consumers was primarily the result of retail sales increases
from the opening of new tasting rooms in 2022. Three new locations in Dundee, Oregon, Lake Oswego, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington have
opened in 2022. Sales revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 were $22,546,057 and $22,356,517, respectively, an
increase of $189,540, or 0.8%, in the current year period over the prior year period. This increase was caused by an
increase in revenues from direct sales of $1,426,731 being partially offset by a decrease in revenues from sales through distributors
of $1,237,191 in the current year period over the prior year period. The increase in revenues from direct sales to consumers was
primarily the result of increased tasting room sales from the opening of three new locations in 2022. The decrease in sales through distributors
was primarily the result of a decrease in off-premise sales.
Cost
of Sales
Cost
of Sales for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 were $3,708,695 and $3,179,590, respectively, an increase of $529,105,
or 16.6%, in the current period over the prior year period. This change was primarily the result of an increase in product costs in 2022
mostly due to higher fruit and packaging costs. Cost of Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 were $10,104,588
and $9,261,589, respectively, an increase of $842,999 or 9.1%, in the current period over the prior year period. This change was primarily
the result of an increase in fruit and packaging costs in 2022 and the mix of sales channels and vintages sold between the two periods.
Gross
Profit
Gross
profit as a percentage of net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was 51.2% and 58.4%, respectively, a decrease
of 7.2 percentage points in the current year period over the prior year period mostly as a result of higher fruit and packaging costs
in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same quarter of 2021. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the nine months ended
September 30, 2022 and 2021 was 55.2% and 58.6%, respectively, a decrease of 3.4 percentage points in the current year period over the
prior year period. This decrease was primarily the result of higher fruit, packaging and labor costs in the first nine months of 2022
compared to the same period in the prior year.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expense for the
three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $5,120,218 and $3,768,765 respectively, an increase of $1,351,453, or 35.9%, in the
current quarter over the same quarter in the prior year. This increase was primarily the result of an increase in selling expenses of
$1,438,872 or 61.6% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same quarter of 2022 being partially offset by a decrease in general
and administrative expenses of $87,419, or 6.1% in the current quarter compared to the same quarter last year. Selling, general and administrative
expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $13,359,293 and $10,688,452, respectively, an increase of $2,670,841,
or 25.0%, in the current year period over the prior year period. This increase was primarily the result of an increase in selling expenses
of $2,584,423, or 38.6% combined with an increase in general and administrative expenses of $86,418, or 2.2% in the current year period
compared to the same period in 2021. Selling expenses increased in both the third quarter and nine months of 2022 compared to the same
periods in 2021 primarily as a result of more sales coming from tasting rooms which have higher selling costs and from costs related to
the development of four new tasting room and restaurant locations. The contribution loss related to the opening of the four new locations
were $654,518 in the current quarter and $1,089,380 in the first nine months of 2022. The contribution loss included lease, labor and
selling costs related to the new locations in 2022.
Interest
Expense
Interest
expense for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $87,220 and $96,473, respectively, a decrease of $9,253 or 9.6%, in
the third quarter of 2022 over the same quarter in the prior year. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and
2021 was $269,037 and $293,548, respectively, a decrease of $24,511 or 8.3%, in the current year period over the prior year period. The
decrease in interest expense for the third quarter and first nine months of 2022 was primarily the result of decreased debt in the current
periods compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2021.
Income
Taxes
The
income tax (expense) benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $358,414 and $(172,256), respectively, a decrease
of $530,670 or 308.1%, in the third quarter of 2022 over the same quarter in the prior year mostly as a result of the lower pre-tax income
in the third quarter of 2022, compared to the same quarter in 2021. The Companys estimated federal and state combined income tax
rate was 27.4% and 27.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The income tax (expense) benefit for the
nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $298,517 and a $(624,839) for September 30, 2021, respectively, a decrease of $923,356 or 147.8%,
in the current year period over the prior year period mostly a result of lower pre-tax income in the first nine months of 2022, compared
to the same period in 2021. The Companys estimated federal and state combined income tax rate was 27.4% for the nine months ended
September 30, 2022 and 2021.
Net
Income (Loss)
Net
income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $(949,821) and $456,191, respectively, a decrease of $1,406,012,
or 308.2%, in the third quarter of 2022 over the same quarter in the prior year. Net income (loss) for the nine months ended September
30, 2022 and 2021 was $(791,362) and $1,656,427, respectively, a decrease of $2,447,789, or 147.8%, in the current year period over the
prior year period. The decrease in net income for the third quarter and for the first nine months of 2022, compared to the comparable
periods in 2021, was primarily the result of higher product costs and additional costs related to the opening of three new locations
in 2022.
Net
Income (Loss) Applicable to Common Shareholders
Net
income (loss) applicable to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $(1,416,433,) and $95,120,
respectively, a decrease of $1,511,553, in the third quarter of 2022 over the same quarter in the prior year. Net income (loss) applicable
to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $(2,191,199) and $573,214, respectively, a decrease
of $2,764,413, in the current year period over the prior year period. The decrease in net income applicable to common shareholders in
the third quarter and the first nine months of 2022, compared to the same periods of 2021, was the result of lower net income and higher
dividend costs in the current period.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
At
September 30, 2022, the Company had a working capital balance of $16.5 million and a current working capital ratio of 2.84:1.
At
September 30, 2022, the Company had a cash balance of $363,363, while at December 31, 2021, the Company had a cash balance of $13,747,285.
This decrease in cash was primarily the result of investments in property and equipment of $13,117,674, the payment of grapes payable
and an increase in inventories.
Total
cash used in operating activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $2,139,961. Cash used in operating activities for the
nine months ended September 30, 2022 was primarily associated with increased inventory, and payment of grapes payable, being partially
offset by non-cash lease expense, and depreciation and amortization.
Total
cash used in investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $13,645,084. Cash used in investing activities for
the nine months ended September 30, 2022 consisted of cash used on property and equipment and vineyard development costs.
Total
cash generated from financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $2,401,123. Cash generated from financing activities
for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 consisted of proceeds from the deposits for and issuance of preferred stock, being partially
offset by the repayment of debt.
In
December of 2005, the Company entered into a revolving line of credit agreement with Umpqua Bank that allows borrowing up to $2,000,000
against eligible accounts receivable and inventories, as defined in the agreement at July 29, 2021. The revolving line bears interest
at prime less 0.5%, with a floor of 3.25%, is payable monthly, and is subject to renewal. In July 2021, the Company renewed the credit
agreement until July 31, 2023. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there was no outstanding balance on this revolving line of
credit.
As
of September 30, 2022, the Company had a 15-year installment note payable of $1,225,194, due in quarterly payments of $42,534, associated
with the purchase of property in the Dundee Hills AVA.
As
of September 30, 2022, the Company had a total long-term debt balance of $5,183,190, including the portion due in the next year, owed
to Farm Credit Services, exclusive of debt issuance costs of $122,548. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had a total long-term debt
balance of $5,535,097, exclusive of debt issuance costs of $132,484.
The
Company believes that cash flow from operations and funds available under the Companys existing credit facilities and through
preferred stock sales will be sufficient to meet the Companys short-term needs. We will continue to evaluate funding mechanisms
to support our long-term funding requirements.