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SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Organization and operations – Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. (the “Company”) owns and operates vineyards and a winery located in the state of Oregon, and produces and distributes premium, super premium, and ultra-premium wines, primarily Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling.

 

The Company has direct-to-consumer sales and national sales to distributors. These sales channels offer comparable products to customers and utilize similar processes and share resources for production, selling and distribution. Direct-to-consumer sales generate a higher gross profit margin than national sales to distributors due to differentiated pricing between these segments.

 

Basis of presentation – The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances at the time. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has been declared a National Public Health Emergency in the United States, and on March 8, 2020, Oregon Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency to address the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. The outbreak in Oregon and other parts of the United States, as well as the response to COVID-19 by federal, state and local governments could have a continued material adverse impact on economic and market conditions in the United States, which may negatively affect our business and operations. Although the administration of vaccines in Oregon and throughout the United States contributed to the lifting of certain restrictive measures, there remains ongoing uncertainty about the impact of COVID-19 variations on infection levels. The re-emergence of significant increases in infection rates could result in governments re-imposing restrictive measures that could reduce or impair economic activity. Consequently, 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.

 

With the exception of key operations personnel, we have shifted our office staff to primarily remote workstations, and we expect we will continue to operate primarily remotely until management determines it is safe for employees to return to offices. Far exceeding the required Oregon Healthy Authority protocols, a new state-of-the-art UV light filtration has been installed in the Company’s HVAC system to reduce harmful viruses in the air at its tasting room locations and staff offices.

 

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. In response to the previous closure of, and capacity restrictions in, our tasting rooms, the Company launched curbside pick-ups, and complimentary shipping specials with minimum purchase, which were able to more than offset the expected declines in direct to consumer sales.

 

Additionally, the demand for the Company’s wine sold directly or through distributors to restaurants, bars, and other hospitality locations could be reduced in the near-term due to the re-imposition of orders from state and local governments restricting consumers from visiting, as well as in some cases the temporary closure of such establishments.

 

The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business is highly uncertain and difficult to predict, as the response to the pandemic, and in particular the response to the COVID-19 variants that have emerged, is continuing to evolve. The severity of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the pandemic and the extent and severity of the impact on the Company’s customers, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted.

 

Financial instruments and concentrations of risk – The Company has the following financial instruments: cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, grapes payable and long-term debt.

 

Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at five financial institutions. Deposits held with these financial institutions may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand and are maintained with a financial institution of reputable credit and therefore bear minimal credit risk.

 

In 2021, sales to one distributor represented approximately 18.1% of total Company revenue. In 2020, sales to one distributor represented approximately 24.0% of total Company revenue.

 

Other comprehensive income – The nature of the Company’s business and related transactions do not give rise to other comprehensive income.

 

Cash and cash equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents include money market funds.

 

Accounts receivable The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and does not require collateral. A reserve is maintained for potential credit losses. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on an assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. The Company has credit risk associated with uncollateralized trade accounts receivable from all operations totaling $3,163,375 and $2,671,576 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 inclusive of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is further discussed in Note 2.

 

InventoriesFor Company produced wines, after a portion of the vineyard becomes commercially productive, the annual crop and production costs relating to such portion are recognized as work-in-process inventories. Such costs are accumulated with related direct and indirect harvest costs, wine processing and production costs, and are transferred to finished goods inventories when the wine is produced, bottled, and ready for sale.

 

The cost of finished goods is recognized as cost of sales when the wine product is sold. Inventories are stated at the lower of first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) cost or net realizable value by variety.

 

In accordance with general practices in the wine industry, wine inventories are generally included in current assets in the accompanying balance sheets, although a portion of such inventories may be aged for more than one year (Note 3).

 

Vineyard development costs – Vineyard development costs consist primarily of the costs of the vines and expenditures related to labor and materials to prepare the land and construct vine trellises. The costs are capitalized until the vineyard becomes commercially productive, at which time annual amortization is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated economic useful life of the vineyard, which is estimated to be 30 years. Accumulated amortization of vineyard development costs aggregated $2,070,009 and $1,824,610 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Amortization of vineyard development costs are included in capitalized crop costs that in turn are included in inventory costs and ultimately become a component of cost of goods sold. For the years ending December 31, 2021 and 2020, $245,399 and $243,760, respectively, was amortized into inventory costs.

 

Property and equipment – Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated on the straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Land improvements are depreciated over 15 years. Winery buildings are depreciated over 30 years. Equipment is depreciated over 3 to 10 years, depending on the classification of the asset. Depreciation is discussed further in Note 4.

 

Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to operating expense as incurred. Expenditures for additions and betterments are capitalized. When assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is included in operations.

 

Review of long-lived assets for impairment – The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets consist primarily of property and equipment. Circumstances that might cause the Company to evaluate its long-lived assets for impairment could include a significant decline in the prices the Company or the industry can charge for its products, which could be caused by general economic or other factors, changes in laws or regulations that make it difficult or more costly for the Company to distribute its products to its markets at prices which generate adequate returns, natural disasters, significant decrease in demand for the Company’s products or significant increase in the costs to manufacture the Company’s products.

 

Recoverability of assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. The Company groups its long-lived assets with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities (or asset group). This would typically be at the winery level. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges associated with long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

 

Income taxes Income taxes are recognized using enacted tax rates and are composed of taxes on financial accounting income that is adjusted for requirements of current tax law, and deferred taxes. Deferred taxes are estimated using the asset and liability approach whereby deferred income taxes are calculated for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book basis and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities.

 

The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2021 or 2020. The Company recognizes interest assessed by taxing authorities as a component of tax expense. The Company recognizes any penalties assessed by taxing authorities as a component of tax expense. Interest and penalties for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were not material.

 

The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as well as income tax returns in Oregon and California. The Company is subject to the Oregon Corporate Activity Tax (OR CAT) beginning in 2020. The Company may be subject to examination by the IRS for tax years 2018 through 2021. Additionally, the Company may be subject to examinations by state taxing jurisdictions for tax years 2017 through 2021. The Company is not aware of any current examinations by the IRS or the state taxing authorities.

 

Revenue recognition The Company recognizes revenue once its performance obligation to the customer is completed and control of the product or service is transferred to the customer. Revenue reflects the total amount the Company receives, or expects to receive, from the customer and includes shipping costs that are billed and included in the consideration. Excise taxes that are accrued and paid, as a result of transaction, are accounted for as an offset to sales in the net sales calculation. The Company’s contractual obligations to customers generally have a single point of obligation and are short term in nature.

 

The cost of price promotions and rebates are treated as reductions of revenue. Credit sales are recorded as trade accounts receivable and no collateral is required. Revenue from items sold through the Company’s retail locations is recognized at the time of sale. Net revenue reported herein is shown net of sales allowances and excise taxes. If the conditions for revenue recognition are not met, the Company defers the revenue until all conditions are met. As of December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, the Company has recorded deferred revenue in the amount of $229,106 and $131,782, respectively, which is included in unearned revenue on the balance sheet. Gift cards that have been issued but not used are also treated as unearned revenue and were $682,881 and $487,633 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Distributor Sales Segment – Wholesale wine sales are through distributors and the Company recognizes revenue when the product is shipped, and title passes to the distributor. The Company’s standard terms are ‘FOB’ shipping point, with no customer acceptance provisions. The cost of price promotions and rebates are treated as reductions of revenue. Credit sales are recorded as trade accounts receivable and no collateral is required.

 

The Company has price incentive programs with its distributors to encourage product placement and depletions. Sales are reported net of incentive program expenses. Incentive program payments are made when completed incentive program payment requests are received from the customers. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded incentive program expenses of $1,437,481 and $1,757,631, respectively, as a reduction in sales on the Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, the Company has recorded an incentive program liability in the amount of $67,326 and $157,044, respectively, which is included in accrued expenses on the balance sheet. Estimates are based on historical and projected experience for each type of program or customer and have historically been in line with actual costs incurred.

 

Direct Sales Segment – The Company sells wine directly to customers through its tasting rooms, web site and wine club. Additionally, the Company sells merchandise, food and hospitality related services through its tasting rooms.

 

Tasting room and web site sales are paid for and recognized as revenue at the point of sale. Hospitality sales, that are paid in advance of the event, are accrued as unearned revenue and are subsequently recognized as revenue in the period of the event. Wine club sales are made under an agreement with the customer which specifies the quantity and timing of the wine club shipment. Wine club charges are billed to the customer’s credit card, at the time of shipment, and revenue is then recognized.

 

The Company periodically sells bulk wine or grapes that either do not meet the Company’s quality standards or are in excess of production requirements. These sales are recognized when ownership transfers to the buyer which occurs at the point of shipment.

 

Cost of goods sold – Costs of goods sold include costs associated with grape growing, external grape costs, packaging materials, winemaking and production costs, vineyard and production administrative support and overhead costs, purchasing and receiving costs and warehousing costs.

 

Administrative support, purchasing, receiving and most other fixed overhead costs are expensed as selling, general and administrative expenses without regard to inventory units. Warehouse and winery production and facilities costs, are allocated to inventory units on a per gallon basis during the production of wine, prior to bottling the final product. No further costs are allocated to inventory units after bottling.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of non-manufacturing administrative and overhead costs, advertising and other marketing promotions. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred or the first time the advertising takes place. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, advertising costs incurred were $329,152 and $247,049 respectively.

 

The Company provides an allowance to distributors for providing sample of products to potential customers. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, these costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, totaled approximately $89,000 and $87,000, respectively.

 

Shipping and handling costs – Amounts paid by customers to the Company for shipping and handling costs are included in the net revenue. Costs incurred for shipping and handling charges are included in selling, general and administrative expense. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, shipping and handling costs included in selling, general and administration costs were $773,164 and $555,409 respectively. The Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to other companies in the same industry as other companies may include shipping and handling costs as a cost of goods sold.

 

Excise taxes The Company pays alcohol excise taxes based on product sales to both the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The Company is liable for the taxes upon the removal of product from the Company’s warehouse on a per gallon basis. The federal tax rate is affected by a small winery tax credit provision which declines based upon the number of gallons of wine production in a year rather than the quantity sold. The Company also pays taxes on the grape harvest on a per ton basis to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission for the Oregon Wine Advisory. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, excise taxes incurred were approximately $384,000 and $372,000 respectively.

 

Income per common share after preferred dividends Income per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding each year.

 

Leases – We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. On our balance sheet, our operating leases are included in Operating lease right-of-use assets, Current portion of lease liabilities and Lease liabilities, net of current portion. The Company does not currently have any finance leases.

 

ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. For leases that do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. We use the implicit rate when readily determinable. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

Significant judgment may be required when determining whether a contract contains a lease, the length of the lease term, the allocation of the consideration in a contract between lease and non-lease components, and the determination of the discount rate included in our leases. We review the underlying objective of each contract, the terms of the contract, and consider our current and future business conditions when making these judgments.

 

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

 

Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740). This standard simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain Codification exceptions and others to be discussed. This was adopted on January 1, 2021 and did not have a significant impact.

 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

 

There are no recently issued accounting pronouncements that the Company has yet to adopt that management believes will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

Reclassifications – Certain immaterial amounts from prior periods have been reclassified to conform to current years’ presentation.