Willamette Valley Vineyards Offers Stock to Fund Two New Wineries Owned by Wine Enthusiast Shareholders

TURNER, Ore., Aug. 19, 2015

Willamette Valley Vineyards has established a minimum purchase of 300 shares at $4.15 or $1,245, and a maximum of 1,205 shares for $5,000.75.  Winery founder, Jim Bernau, wanted the investment amount to be within reach of many wine enthusiasts with an upper limit to make sure the stock was not bought in large blocks, restricting the number who could participate.  A total of 1,445,783 shares of preferred stock has been registered with the SEC and the company plans to raise up to six million dollars in this transaction.  An investment in their securities involves risks, and persons should not invest without reading in their entirety the prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein, particularly including the section entitled "Risk Factors." To obtain more information regarding the winery and an investment call 1-800-344-9463 or visit www.wvv.com/ownership.

Willamette Valley Vineyards built its original winery in 1989 by conducting a self-underwritten public offering of common stock under the Federal Regulation A, which was at the time a new, streamlined securities registration process for small companies with a $1.5 million funding maximum.  In 1994, the winery was admitted to the NASDAQ where its common stock is traded under the symbol WVVI. Prospective investors should note that the preferred stock now being offered will not be listed, and presently is not eligible for listing on the Nasdaq.

The strategy of combining its capital needs with its market has worked for the winery in assembling more than 5,000 shareholders of record, many of whom are also devoted customers and brand ambassadors. 

Bernau explains the company prefers this non-traditional approach to build its two planned boutique wineries: "Many wine enthusiasts want to share in the dream and success of building a winery but few have the time and money to do it.  By acting collectively, together we have built a word class winery in Oregon and contributed to the growth of the industry. Now we are working to do it again to curate very high quality wine experiences at two special sites."

Oregon Estate Vineyards, a new division of the company, will build two small production wineries on company owned land in the Eola Hills and Walla Walla American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).  Winery Director Christine Collier remarks, "These two sites are among the best for growing what each location does best -- Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the eastern slope of the Eola Hills and Cabernet Sauvignon in SeVein above the acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyard."

The winery has publicly reported its financial progress every quarter and year demonstrating its belief that the nascent Oregon wine industry could grow into a serious business building considerable value in its communities and for shareholders. This success has afforded Willamette Valley Vineyards an opportunity to contribute to important charitable causes such as ¡Salud!, a collaborative program between 40 vintners and Tuality Healthcare which provides vineyard worker healthcare. In 2014, Bernau received the Los Heros de ¡Salud! Award for the winery's service to the program and lead gift which helped fund the mobile medical unit.