Willamette Valy Stock Price, News & Analysis

Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. Series A Redeemable Preferred (NASDAQ: WVVIP) represents the preferred equity of Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc., a winery focused on producing premium wines and operating a community-ownership model. The company is described in multiple disclosures as a leading Oregon producer of Pinot Noir, with its common stock trading on NASDAQ under the symbol WVVI and its Series A Redeemable Preferred stock trading under WVVIP.

Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. is headquartered at its Estate Vineyard near Salem, Oregon, in the Salem Hills. According to company statements, it was founded in 1983 by Jim Bernau with the goal of creating world-class Pinot Noir while serving as stewards of the land. Over time, the winery has grown into one of the region's leading wineries and has been recognized by Wine Enthusiast Magazine as "One of America's Great Pinot Noir Producers."

Core Business and Wine Operations

According to its company description, Willamette Valley Vineyards produces and sells premium, super-premium, and ultra-premium wines. The grapes are harvested, fermented, and made into wine at the company's winery in Turner, Oregon, and the wines are sold principally under the Willamette Valley Vineyards label and also under the Griffin Creek, Tualatin Estate, Pambrun, Maison Bleue, Natoma, Metis, and Elton labels.

The company reports that it operates with two primary operating segments: direct sales and distributor sales. Direct sales include retail sales in its tasting room and remote sites, wine club sales, online sales, on-site events, kitchen and catering sales, and other sales made directly to consumers without the use of an intermediary. Distributor sales include all sales through a third party where prices are given at a wholesale rate.

Estate Vineyards, Tasting Rooms, and Sustainability

Company communications state that Willamette Valley Vineyards farms its Estate winery in the Salem Hills and operates Domaine Willamette, a sparkling winery in the Dundee Hills, as well as the Tualatin Estate Vineyard near Forest Grove and Elton Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills. The winery reports having 1,000 acres under vine and notes that all of its vineyards have been certified sustainable through LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) and Salmon-Safe programs.

The winery highlights its Estate Tasting Room in the Salem Hills, which has been recognized as the #1 Tasting Room in the Nation by USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for two consecutive years. The company describes this tasting room as offering immersive, curated experiences, including classic flights, personalized tableside tastings and seasonal pairing menus featuring ingredients sourced from across the Pacific Northwest. It emphasizes a warm, welcoming atmosphere with panoramic vineyard views and a focus on wine, culinary arts and community.

In addition to its estate locations, Willamette Valley Vineyards reports that it has expanded to multiple tasting rooms in Oregon, Washington and California. Company materials reference nine tasting rooms in one communication and 10 tasting rooms in a later communication, indicating ongoing expansion of its hospitality footprint.

Wine Portfolio and Culinary Program

Willamette Valley Vineyards states that it offers more than 75 bottlings, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines crafted at the Demeter-certified Domaine Willamette. The winery emphasizes a culinary program led by its Wine & Culinary Director, with dishes designed to complement the wines. The company describes its approach as celebrating the bounty of Oregon and pairing wines with ingredients such as wild steelhead and truffle-forward dishes, with an emphasis on the relationship between food and wine.

Community Ownership and Preferred Stock

The Series A Redeemable Preferred stock (WVVIP) is part of the company's broader community-ownership model. Company communications describe Willamette Valley Vineyards as one of the nation's only community-owned, publicly traded wineries and state that it pioneered a community-funded business model in 1989. The company notes that it was the first SEC-authorized, community-funded business in the nation and that this model has inspired wine enthusiasts to invest in both common (WVVI) and preferred (WVVIP) stock, resulting in tens of thousands of owners.

According to recent announcements, the company periodically offers preferred stock directly to investors to support expansion of its vineyards, tasting rooms, restaurants and production facilities. The preferred stock is described as offering an annual dividend, with shareholders having the option in certain offerings to receive dividends in cash or as wine credit with additional value, subject to the terms of the applicable offering and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation governing the Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock.

The company has announced annual cash dividends on the Series A Redeemable Preferred stock in multiple years. In those announcements, it states that future dividends on the Preferred Stock are subject to approval by the board of directors and that the amount of dividends declared will be based on the terms of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation of the Preferences, Limitations, and Relative Rights of the Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock.

Hospitality, Wine Club, and Shareholder Benefits

Willamette Valley Vineyards highlights its Wine Club, which has been recognized by USA TODAY 10Best as #2 in the Nation. The club is described as offering multiple membership tiers, customizable options, access to exclusive wines, complimentary tastings and invitations to members-only events. The company links this club to its community-ownership model, noting that many shareholders are also club members.

For preferred stockholders and other investors, the company describes a range of benefits, including discounts on wine purchases, owner-only experiences, exclusive access to new releases and the opportunity to take dividends in wine credit in certain offerings. These benefits are presented as a way for shareholders to establish a long-term connection to the winery's mission and operations.

Corporate Structure and Sector

Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. is categorized in the Wineries industry within the broader Manufacturing sector. Its common stock trades on NASDAQ under the symbol WVVI, and its Series A Redeemable Preferred stock trades under the symbol WVVIP. The company describes itself as a publicly traded winery that combines traditional wine values with a modern investor model, using shareholder capital to support vineyard development, hospitality venues and production facilities.

WVVIP as an Investment Instrument

The WVVIP ticker specifically refers to the Series A Redeemable Preferred stock of Willamette Valley Vineyards, Inc. Company announcements describe this security as preferred equity with dividend rights defined by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation. The preferred stock is used in offerings that support growth initiatives, and dividends on the Preferred Stock, when declared, are described in public announcements that specify record dates and payment dates.

According to these announcements, the board of directors determines whether to declare dividends on the Preferred Stock and the amount of such dividends in accordance with the governing certificate of designation. The company has repeatedly emphasized that future dividends remain subject to board approval and the applicable terms and conditions.

Recognition and Mission

In its public communications, Willamette Valley Vineyards emphasizes its mission of creating world-class Pinot Noir while acting as stewards of the land. The company highlights its certifications through LIVE and Salmon-Safe and its recognition by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and USA TODAY 10Best. It also underscores its community-first ethos, describing itself as a place of hospitality, community, quality and innovation, and noting that many of its expansions have been made possible by stock ownership from wine enthusiasts.