UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

   
FORM 10-Q
 

 
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011

¨ TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

Commission File Number 000-21522

WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS, INC.

 (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Oregon
93-0981021
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
 


8800 Enchanted Way, S.E., Turner, Oregon
97392
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:    (503) 588-9463
 

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:
x YES        ¨ NO

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files):
¨ YES        ¨ NO
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
¨ Large accelerated filer                         ¨ Accelerated filer
   
¨ Non-accelerated filer                         x Smaller reporting company
 
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):                            ¨ YES        x NO

Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of May 10, 2011:  4,892,977 shares
 
 
 

 
 
WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS, INC.
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

Part I - Financial Information
  3
   
Item 1 - Financial Statements
  3
   
Balance Sheet
  3
   
Statements of Operations
  4
   
Statements of Cash Flows
  5
   
Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
  6
   
Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
9
   
Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
14
   
Item 4 - Controls and Procedures
14
   
Part II - Other Information
16
   
Item 1 - Legal Proceedings
16
   
Item 1A – Risk Factors
16
   
Item 2 - Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
16
   
Item 3 - Defaults upon Senior Securities
16
   
Item 4 - Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
16
   
Item 5 - Other Information
16
   
Item 6 – Exhibits
17
   
Signatures
18
 
 
2

 
 
WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS, INC.
 BALANCE SHEETS
   

  
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(audited)
 
ASSETS
           
             
CURRENT ASSETS
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,464,716     $ 1,518,864  
Accounts receivable, net
    1,000,403       1,264,966  
Inventories (Note 4)
    10,480,453       10,712,018  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    166,047       82,241  
Current portion of note receivable
    62,415       62,415  
Income tax receivable
    96,155       115,063  
Total current assets
    13,270,189       13,755,567  
                 
Vineyard development costs, net
    1,643,844       1,662,292  
Property and equipment, net (Note 5)
    6,184,147       6,243,990  
Debt issuance costs
    32,345       32,438  
Note receivable
    42,850       71,457  
Other assets
    4,456       4,456  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 21,177,831     $ 21,770,200  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Current portion of long-term debt
    372,228       452,226  
Accounts payable
    716,392       748,813  
Accrued expenses
    401,653       595,197  
Deferred income taxes
    232,000       232,000  
Grapes payable
    -       273,211  
Total current liabilities
    1,722,273       2,301,447  
                 
Long-term debt, net of current portion
    2,795,291       2,827,086  
Deferred rent liability
    213,264       215,003  
Deferred gain
    273,718       281,741  
Deferred income taxes
    578,000       578,000  
Total liabilities
    5,582,546       6,203,277  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
                 
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Common stock, no par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, shares authorized, 4,892,977 and 4,888,977 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010
    8,623,744       8,623,744  
Retained earnings
    6,971,541       6,943,179  
Total shareholders’ equity
    15,595,285       15,566,923  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 21,177,831     $ 21,770,200  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this financial statement
 
 
3

 

WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 

 
   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(unaudited)
 
             
SALES
  $ 3,625,693     $ 3,553,576  
COST OF SALES
    1,886,408       2,084,849  
                 
GROSS PROFIT
    1,739,285       1,468,727  
                 
SELLING GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
    1,646,551       1,741,483  
                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
    92,734       (272,756 )
                 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
               
Interest income
    2,600       2,819  
Interest expense
    (49,177 )     (53,304 )
Other income, net
    1,113       11,078  
                 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    47,270       (312,163 )
                 
INCOME TAX PROVISION (BENEFIT)
    18,908       (123,819 )
                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 28,362     $ (188,344 )
                 
BASIC NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
  $ 0.01     $ (0.04 )
                 
DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
  $ 0.01     $ (0.04 )
                 
Weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding
    4,892,977       4,888,977  
                 
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding
    4,898,236       4,904,452  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this financial statement
 
 
4

 
 
WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 

   
Three months ended March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(unaudited)
 
             
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
           
Net income
  $ 28,362     $ (188,344 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash:
               
from operating activities
               
Depreciation and amortization
    186,483       177,900  
Inventory obsolescence reserve
    -       54,303  
Stock based compensation expense
    -       2,210  
Deferred rent liability
    (1,739 )     -  
Deferred gain
    (8,023 )     (8,023 )
Gain on sale of assets
    -       (801 )
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    264,563       380,458  
Inventories
    231,565       317,860  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (83,806 )     (80,548 )
Income taxes receivable
    18,908       (123,820 )
Grapes payable
    (273,211 )     (657,371 )
Accounts payable
    (32,421 )     (304,918 )
Accrued expenses
    (193,544 )     (45,849 )
Net cash from operating activities
    137,137       (476,943 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Additions to property and equipment
    (108,099 )     (54,276 )
Payments received on note receivable
    28,607       27,577  
Net cash from investing activities
    (79,492 )     (26,699 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Bank overdraft
    -       (54,962 )
Net borrowings (repayments) on line of credit
    -       662,291  
Payments on long-term debt
    (111,793 )     (103,687 )
Net cash from financing activities
    (111,793 )     503,642  
                 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    (54,148 )     -  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of quarter
    1,518,864       -  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of quarter
  $ 1,464,716     $ -  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this financial statement
 
 
5

 
 
NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The financial information as of December 31, 2010 is derived from the audited financial statements presented in the Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. (the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments necessary (which are of a normal recurring nature) for the fair statement of the results of the interim periods presented. The accompanying financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, as presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2011, or any portion thereof.

The Company consists of the retail, in-state self-distribution and out-of-state sales departments.  These departments have mostly similar economic characteristics, offer comparable products to customers and utilize similar processes for production and distribution. The in-state self-distribution business known as Bacchus Fine Wines has the unique characteristic of selling wholesale purchased wines and glassware in addition to Company produced wines. The Company reports limited financial information for two operating segments as follows: Bacchus Distribution and Produced Wines.

Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding each period. Diluted earnings per share are computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the year.  Potentially dilutive shares from stock options and other potentially dilutive shares are excluded from the computation when their effect is anti-dilutive. 5,259 and 15,475 potentially dilutive shares are included in the computation of dilutive earnings per share for the three month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

2) Effects of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a new statement that establishes general standards of accounting for, and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. The new statement, located under the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ (“ASC”) Topic 855 “Subsequent Events” (formerly SFAS 165, Subsequent Events) requires entities to disclose the date through which subsequent events were evaluated as well as the rationale for why that date was selected, that is, whether that date represents the date the financial statements were issued or were available to be issued. The new statement is effective for interim or annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, which was the quarter ended June 30, 2009 for the Company. In February 2010, the FASB amended its guidance removing the requirement for SEC filers to disclose the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events. The adoption of this new statement did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

3) STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

The Company has two stock option plans, the 1992 Stock Incentive Plan (“1992 Plan”) and 2001 Stock Option Plan (“2001 Plan”).  No additional grants may be made under the 1992 Plan.  The 2001 Plan, which was approved by the shareholders, permits the grant of stock options and restricted stock awards for up to 900,000 shares.  All stock options have an exercise price that is equal to the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the date the options were granted.  Administration of the plan, including determination of the number, term, and type of options to be granted, lies with the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors.  Options are generally granted based on employee performance with vesting periods ranging from date of grant to seven years.  The maximum term before expiration for all grants is ten years.
 
 
6

 
 
The following table presents information related to the value of outstanding stock options for the periods shown:

   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31, 2011
 
   
Weighted Average Exercise
 
   
Shares
   
Price
 
             
Outstanding at beginning of period
    208,700     $ 4.12  
Granted
    -       -  
Exercised
    -       -  
Forfeited
    -       -  
                 
Outstanding at end of period
    208,700     $ 4.12  

The Company expenses stock options on a straight-line basis over the options’ related vesting term.  For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company recognized pretax compensation expense related to stock options of $0 and $2,210, respectively.
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2011, there were no transactions related to stock options exercise activity.
 
4) INVENTORIES

The Company’s inventories, by major classification, are summarized as follows, as of the dates shown:

Winemaking and packaging materials
  $ 320,351     $ 296,013  
Work-in-progress (costs relating to unprocessed and/or
               
unbottled wine products)
    2,749,695       3,209,693  
Finished goods (bottled wine and related products)
    7,431,708       7,226,730  
Obsolescence reserve
    (21,301 )     (20,418 )
                 
Current inventories
  $ 10,480,453     $ 10,712,018  

5) PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

The Company’s property and equipment consists of the following, as of the dates shown:
 
 
7

 
 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(audited)
 
             
Construction in progress
  $ 208,849     $ 152,039  
Land and improvements
    2,608,962       2,608,962  
Winery building and hospitality center
    5,531,859       5,516,342  
Equipment
    6,066,477       6,030,705  
                 
    $ 14,416,147     $ 14,308,048  
                 
Less accumulated depreciation
    (8,232,000 )     (8,064,058 )
                 
    $ 6,184,147     $ 6,243,990  
 
6)  INTEREST AND TAXES PAID

During the first quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company paid $110,042 in payroll tax. Additionally, $49,177 was paid in interest on the long-term debt and revolving credit line for the same period.

7) SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company has identified two operating segments, Produced Wine and Bacchus Distribution. Bacchus Distribution (dba Bacchus Fine Wines), is the Company’s in-state distribution department. Bacchus distributes produced wine, purchased wine and Riedel glassware at wholesale prices to in-state customers. Produced wine represents all Willamette Valley Vineyard branded wine which is produced at the winery. Purchased wines and Riedel glassware are brands purchased from other wine distributors and wineries for sale to in-state customers. For segment reporting, the produced wines distributed by Bacchus are consolidated with Retail and Out-of-State sales and shown as Produced Wines.

The two segments reflect how the Company’s operations are evaluated by senior management and the structure of its internal financial reporting.  The Company evaluates performance based on the gross profit of the respective business segment.  Sales, general and administrative expenses are not allocated between operating segments, therefore net income information for the respective segments is not available.  Discrete financial information related to segment assets, other than inventory, is not available and that information continues to be aggregated.

The following tables outline the sales, cost of sales and gross profit, for the three month period ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 by operating segment:
 
 
8

 
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
   
Bacchus
   
Produced
       
   
Distribution
   
Wine
   
Total
 
                   
Net sales
  $ 888,539     $ 2,737,154     $ 3,625,693  
Cost of sales
    621,145       1,265,263       1,886,408  
Gross profit
    267,394       1,471,891       1,739,285  
Percentage of sales
    30.1 %     53.8 %     48.0 %
                         
   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
 
   
Bacchus
   
Produced
         
   
Distribution
   
Wine
   
Total
 
                         
Net sales
  $ 965,080     $ 2,588,496     $ 3,553,576  
Cost of sales
    780,238       1,304,611       2,084,849  
Gross profit
    184,842       1,283,885       1,468,727  
Percentage of sales
    19.2 %     49.6 %     41.3 %

Total inventory for Bacchus Distribution was $1,400,009 of purchased wines and $419,694 of non-wine merchandise at March 31, 2011.  At March 31, 2010 total inventory for Bacchus Distribution was $1,554,059 of purchased wines and $335,768 of non-wine merchandise, a reduction of $154,050 of purchased wines and an increase of $ 83,926 of non-wine merchandise from 2010 to 2011. Total inventory for produced wine inventory was $5,566,550 and $3,094,200 of non-wine merchandise and work-in-process at March 31, 2011. At March 31, 2010 total produced wine inventory of $5,530,944 and $4,376,473 of non-wine merchandise and work-in-process for the same period, an increase of $35,606 for produced wine inventory and a reduction of $1,282,273 in work-in-process from 2010 to 2011.

Item 2

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward Looking Statements

This Management’s 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 Company’s business, and beliefs and assumptions made by management.  Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” 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, impact of governmental regulatory decisions, and other risks disclosed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports.  In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic economic conditions.  The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and, except as otherwise required by law, the Company disclaim 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.
 
 
9

 
 
Critical Accounting Policies

The foregoing discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted  the United States of America.  The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company’s 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 Company’s critical accounting policies and related judgments and estimates that affect the preparation of the Company’s financial statements is set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  Such policies were unchanged during the three  months ended March 31, 2011.

Overview

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $216,706 or 115.1%, from the comparable prior year period.  Sales to out-of-state distributors in the first quarter of 2011 through the Company’s National Sales Department increased $77,004 or 5.0% and the Company’s Direct Sales Department increased by $58,960 or 10.0% but these gains were partially offset by a reduction of $45,211 in revenues from the Company’s in-state wholesale department, Bacchus Fine Wines.

Despite Oregon's poor economy, these direct retail gains are due to increased winery visitations and related sales activity at on-site and off-site events as well as a substantial increase in Wine Club sales during the quarter.

The Company sold approximately 31,565 cases during the three months ended March 31, 2011.  Of these cases sold, approximately 23,535 cases were produced brands and another 8,030 cases were purchased brands.

Gross margins on the Company’s produced wine have moved towards returning to historical levels resulting in an increase in Gross Profit of $188,006 over the prior period.

The increase in gross margin in addition to a decrease in administrative costs produced a net income for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011 of $28,362 compared to a net loss of $188,344, a 115.1% increase over the comparable prior year period.  As a result, the Company generated $0.01 basic earnings per share during the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $0.05 basic earnings per share versus the comparable prior year period.

The winery bottled approximately 29,866 cases in the first quarter of 2011, mainly 2010 Whole Cluster Pinot Noir. 

The Company has an asset-based loan agreement (the “line of credit”) with Umpqua Bank that allows it to borrow up to $2,000,000.  The maturity date on this loan agreement is June 2011.  The index rate at March 31, 2011 is 3.25%. The loan agreement contains certain restrictive financial covenants with respect to total equity, debt-to-equity and debt coverage that must be maintained by the Company on a quarterly basis. As of March 31, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants.

At March 31, 2011, the Company had no amount outstanding on the line of credit. At March 31, 2011, the availability on the line of credit was $2,000,000.

At December 31, 2010, the Company had no amount outstanding on the line of credit. At December 31, 2010, the availability on the line of credit was $2,000,000.

Willamette Valley Vineyards wines continue to receive recognition for quality. In January, Harvey Steiman of Wine Spectator rated the ’08 Estate Pinot Noir 90pts. Three ’08 Pinot Noirs were reviewed in the January issue of Wine & Spirits: Estate Pinot Noir, 92pts; Vintage Pinot Noir, 90pts; Signature Cuvée Pinot Noir, 92pts.

The Dallas Morning News and Texsom Wine Competition awarded the '09 Pinot Gris a gold medal at their 27th annual February event. Out of 2768 wines tasted from 18 countries and 30 states, 173 wines received gold medals.

In Gregory S. Walter’s “Pinot Report", the following '08 Pinot Noirs were reviewed: Vintage Pinot Noir, 91pts; South Block Pinot Noir, 91pts; Hannah Pinot Noir, 93pts; Fuller Pinot Noir, 93pts; O’Brien Pinot Noir, 90pts.
 
 
10

 
 
In the March Wine Enthusiast magazine issue, the ’08 South Block earned 92pts and Editor’s Choice.

In March, Willamette Valley Vineyards was one of 4 wineries to pour at the James Beard dinner held in Portland, OR. The dinner was a kick-off event for the annual James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation's most prestigious recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industry.

At the LIVE annual meeting in April, Jim Bernau, Founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards was awarded Salmon-Safe’s “Hero of Salmon” award for his implementation of the high impact Salmon-Safe SIP•SAVE campaign in print, retail, web and even truck wraps.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Revenue

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $72,117 or 2.0%, from the comparable prior year period. Sales through the Company’s in-state distribution arm, Bacchus Fine Wines, decreased $ 45,211 or 3.0% but were offset by gains through the Company’s other sales departments.

Sales to the Company’s out-of-state distributors in the first quarter increased $77,006, or 5.0% and the Company’s Direct Sales Department (direct-to-consumer) sales increased by $58,960 or 10.0% versus prior year. These retail gains are due to increased attendance and related sales activity at the on-site and off-site events as well as a substantial increase in Wine Club sales during the quarter.

The Company sold approximately 31,565 cases during the three months ended March 31, 2011.  Of these cases sold, approximately 23,535 cases were produced brands and another 8,030 cases were purchased brands.

The Company’s revenues from winery operations are summarized as follows:
 
   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31, 2011
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Retail sales, rental income and events
  $ 647,929     $ 588,969  
In-state sales
    1,464,119       1,509,330  
Out-of-state sales
    1,607,871       1,530,865  
Bulk wine/miscellaneous sales
    -       10,650  
                 
Total revenue
    3,719,919       3,639,814  
                 
Less excise taxes
    (94,226 )     (86,238 )
                 
Net revenue
  $ 3,625,693     $ 3,553,576  

Sales in the state of Oregon, through the Company’s wholesale department, Bacchus Fine Wines, decreased $45,211 or 3.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to the corresponding prior year period.

Out-of-state sales in the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $77,006 or 5.0% versus the comparable prior year period.
 
 
11

 
 
Cost of Goods Sold

The Company’s cost of goods on produced wines is moving back to historical levels resulting in an increase in Gross Profit of $188,006.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $270,558 or 18.4%, versus the first quarter of 2010.

As a percentage of net revenue, gross profit from winery operations was 48.0% in the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to 41.3% in the comparable prior year period. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is mainly due to the decrease in the cost of the Company’s produced brands across the Company’s product lines as well as a decrease in the cost of the Company’s purchased wines.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Selling, general and administrative expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased $94,932 or 5.5% compared to the corresponding prior year period.  This decrease is due primarily to a reduction in salaries expense as a result of streamlining the Company’s overhead operations as well as a decrease in professional service fees for accounting and legal services. In total, as a percentage of net revenues from winery operations, selling, general and administrative expenses were 45.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared to 49.0% for the comparable prior year period.

Interest Income, Interest Expense

Interest income for the first quarter 2011 was $2,600. During the corresponding period in 2010 the Company earned $2,819 interest income. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $49,177 a decrease of $4,127 or 7.7% compared to the corresponding prior year period. The average interest rate paid for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was 6.0%.

Income Taxes

The income tax expense in the first quarter 2011 was $18,908 for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to income tax benefit of  $123,819  for the comparable prior year period. The Company’s estimated tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was 40.0% and 40.0%, respectively.
 
Net Income and Earnings per Share

The increase in gross margin in addition to a reduction in selling and administrative costs produced a net income for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011 of $28,362 compared to net loss of $188,344, a 115.1% increase over the comparable prior year period. As a result, the Company generated $0.01 basic earnings per share during the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $0.05 basic earnings per share versus the comparable prior year period.

The winery bottled approximately 29,866 cases in the first quarter of 2011, mainly 2010 vintage Pinot Noir Whole Cluster.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2011, the Company had a working capital balance of $11.6 million and a current working capital ratio of 7.71:1. At December 31, 2010, the Company had a working capital balance of $11.5 million and a current working capital ratio of 5.98:1.  The Company had a cash balance of $1,464,716 at March 31, 2011, compared to a cash balance of $1,518,864 at December 31, 2010.

Total cash provided by operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $137,137 compared to cash used by operating activities of $476,943 for the same period in the prior year.
 
 
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Total cash used in investing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $79,492, compared to $26,699 used in the comparable prior year period.  The increase was due to an increase in the current period of capital expenditures for property and equipment costs versus the prior year.

Total cash used in financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $111,793 compared to $503,642 provided by financing activities in the comparable prior year period. Cash used by financing activities in the current year primarily consists of the payments on the long-term debt.

The Company has an asset-based loan agreement (the “line of credit”) with Umpqua Bank that allows it to borrow up to $2,000,000. The maturity date on this loan agreement is June 2011. The index rate at March 31, 2011 is 3.25%. The loan agreement contains certain restrictive financial covenants with respect to total equity, debt-to-equity and debt coverage that must be maintained by the Company on a quarterly basis. As of March 31, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants.

At March 31, 2011, the Company had no amount outstanding on the line of credit. At March 31, 2011, the availability on the line of credit was $2,000,000.

At December 31, 2010, the Company had no amount outstanding on the line of credit. At December 31, 2010, the availability on the line of credit was $2,000,000.

As of March 31, 2011, the Company had a total long-term debt balance of $3,167,519, including the portion due in the next year, owed to Farm Credit Services and Kubota. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had a total long-term debt balance of $3,279,312. There was no new long-term debt incurred in the quarter ended March 31, 2011. The remaining debt balance mainly represents the debt service with Farm Credit Services which was used to acquire vineyard land, finance the Company’s Hospitality Center, invest in new winery equipment to increase the Company’s winemaking capacity, and complete a larger warehouse storage facility.

At March 31, 2011, the Company owed $0 on grape contracts. For the 2011 harvest, there are grape purchase contracts in place with local growers that will be accrued when the grapes are received, typically in October.

The Company believes that cash flow from operations and funds available under the Company’s existing credit facilities will be sufficient to meet the Company’s foreseeable short and long-term needs.

Segment Reporting

The Company has identified two operating segments, Produced Wine and Bacchus Distribution. Bacchus Distribution (dba Bacchus Fine Wines), is the Company’s in-state distribution department. Bacchus distributes produced wine, purchased wine and Riedel glassware at wholesale prices to in-state customers. Produced wine represents all Willamette Valley Vineyard branded wine which is produced at the winery. Purchased wines and Riedel glassware are brands purchased from other wine distributors and wineries for sale to in-state customers. For segment reporting, the produced wines distributed by Bacchus are consolidated with Retail and Out-of-State sales and shown as Produced Wines.

The two segments reflect how the Company’s operations are evaluated by senior management and the structure of its internal financial reporting.  The Company evaluates performance based on the gross profit of the respective business segment.  Sales, general and administrative expenses are not allocated between operating segments, therefore net income information for the respective segments is not available.  Discrete financial information related to segment assets, other than inventory, is not available and that information continues to be aggregated.

The following tables outline the sales, cost of sales and gross profit, for the three month period ended March 31, 2011 by operating segment:
 
 
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Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
   
Bacchus
   
Produced
       
   
Distribution
   
Wine
   
Total
 
                   
Net sales
  $ 888,539     $ 2,737,154     $ 3,625,693  
Cost of sales
    621,145       1,265,263       1,886,408  
Gross profit
    267,394       1,471,891       1,739,285  
Percentage of sales
    30.1 %     53.8 %     48.0 %
                         
   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
 
   
Bacchus
   
Produced
         
   
Distribution
   
Wine
   
Total
 
                         
Net sales
  $ 965,080     $ 2,588,496     $ 3,553,576  
Cost of sales
    780,238       1,304,611       2,084,849  
Gross profit
    184,842       1,283,885       1,468,727  
Percentage of sales
    19.2 %     49.6 %     41.3 %

Total inventory for Bacchus Distribution was $1,400,009 of purchased wines and $419,694 of non-wine merchandise at March 31, 2011.  At March 31, 2010 total inventory for Bacchus Distribution was $1,554,059 of purchased wines and $335,768 of non-wine merchandise, a reduction of $154,050 of purchased wines and an increase of $ 83,926 of non-wine merchandise from 2010 to 2011. Total inventory for produced wine inventory was $5,566,550 and $3,094,200 of non-wine merchandise and work-in-process at March 31, 2011. At March 31, 2010 total produced wine inventory of $5,530,944 and $4,376,473 of non-wine merchandise and work-in-process for the same period, an increase of $35,606 for produced wine inventory and a reduction of $1,282,273 in work-in-process from 2010 to 2011.

Item 3

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

None.

Item 4
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures – The Company carried out an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 13a-15 and 15d-5 under the Exchange Act. Based on that review, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports the Company files or submit under the Exchange Act (1) is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and (2) is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principle financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
The Company does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all error and all fraud. A control procedure, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control procedure are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control procedures, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The Company considered these limitations during the development of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, and will continually reevaluate them to ensure they provide reasonable assurance that such controls and procedures are effective.
 
 
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Management’s report on internal control over financial reportingThe Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Company’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act and includes those policies and procedures that: (a) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets; (b) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that the Company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the Company’s management and directors; and (c) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. All internal controls, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2011. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, management has concluded that, as of March 31, 2011, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.

Management’s remediation initiativesManagement commenced in 2010 an initiative to address the material weakness disclosed in the Company’s 2009 report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, which initiative included the following:

 
·
Management implemented the use of an Excel spreadsheet for accurately tracking of produced wine inventory costs. This tracking mechanism accumulates the costs associated with the finished product from initial vineyard costs through the full production cycle to the finished case goods.

 
·
Key managers and accounting personnel worked closely with the Company’s independent audit firm in evaluating the Company’s progress in remediating the previously identified material weakness, all with oversight by the Audit Committee.

 
·
Management developed key control and compensating control procedures have been developed to ensure that material weaknesses are properly addressed and related financial reporting risks are mitigated. Periodic control validation and testing will also be implemented to ensure that controls continue to operate consistently and as designed.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
It is management’s belief that this former material weakness has been fully remediated in 2010. There have not been any other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter that our certifying officers concluded  materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
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PART II.          OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.     Legal Proceedings.

From time to time, the Company is a party to various judicial and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.  The Company’s management and legal counsel have reviewed the probable outcome of any proceedings that were pending during the period covered by this report, the costs and expenses reasonably expected to be incurred, the availability and limits of the Company’s insurance coverage, and the Company’s established liabilities.  While the outcome of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, based on the Company’s review, the Company believes that any unrecorded liability that may result as a result of any legal proceedings is not likely to have a material effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial condition or results from operations.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

As a smaller reporting company, the Company is not required to provide the information required by this item.

Item 2.     Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None.

Item 3.     Defaults upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4.     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

None.

Item 5.     Other Information
 
None.
 
 
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Item 6.     Exhibits

Exhibit No.           Description

3.1   Articles of Incorporation of Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. (incorporated by reference from the Company's Regulation A Offering Statement on Form 1-A, File No. 24S-2996)

3.2   Articles of Amendment, dated August 22, 2000 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008, filed August 14, 2008, File No. 000-21522)

3.3   Bylaws of Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008, filed August 14, 2008 File No. 000-21522)

31.1  Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Filed herewith)

31.2  Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Filed herewith)

32.1  Certification of James W. Bernau pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herewith)

32.2  Certification of R. Steven Caldwell pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herewith)
 
 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Security Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

   
WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS, INC.
     
Date: May 11, 2011
 
By /s/ James W. Bernau
   
James W. Bernau
   
President
     
Date: May 11, 2011
 
By /s/ R. Steven Caldwell
   
R. Steven Caldwell
   
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
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