Significant Accounting Policies

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(a) Critical Accounting Estimates: The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates all of these estimates and assumptions. The following areas have been identified as critical accounting estimates because they have the potential to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and because they are based on assumptions which are used in the accounting records to reflect, at a specific point in time, events whose ultimate outcome won’t be known until a later date. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Inventory - Inventory consists of mainly bulk and bottled wine and is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost being determined on the first-in, first-out method. Costs associated with winemaking, and other costs associated with the manufacturing of products for resale, are recorded as inventory. In accordance with general practice within the wine industry, wine inventories are included in current assets, although a portion of such inventories may be aged for periods longer than one year. As required, the Company reduces the carrying value of inventories that are obsolete or in excess of estimated usage to estimated net realizable value. The Company’s estimates of net realizable value are based on analyses and assumptions including, but not limited to, historical usage, future demand and market requirements. Reductions to the carrying value of inventories are recorded in cost of sales. If future demand and/or pricing for the Company’s products are less than previously estimated, then the carrying value of the inventories may be required to be reduced, resulting in additional expense and reduced profitability. Inventory write-downs of $0.3 million, $0.2 million and $0.3 million were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Vineyard Development Costs – The Company capitalizes internal vineyard development costs when developing new vineyards or replacing or improving existing vineyards. These costs consist primarily of the costs of the vines and expenditures related to labor and materials to prepare the land and construct vine trellises. Amortization of such costs is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic useful life of the vineyard, which can be as long as 25 years. As circumstances warrant, the Company re-evaluates the recoverability of capitalized costs, and will record impairment charges if required. The Company has not recorded any significant impairment charges for its vineyards during the last three years.

Review of Long-lived Assets for Impairment - For intangible assets with definite lives, impairment testing is required if conditions exist that indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. For intangible assets with indefinite lives and for goodwill, impairment testing is required at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that these assets might be impaired. Other than goodwill, the Company currently has no intangible assets with indefinite lives. All of the Company’s goodwill and substantially all definite-lived intangible assets resulted from the acquisitions of Seghesio Family Vineyards in May 2011 and Seven Hills Winery in January 2016. Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 7 to 20 years. The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment at the end of each year or more often if a triggering event occurs, and has concluded that goodwill is not impaired.

The Company evaluates long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangible 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 and intangible assets with definite lives. 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 using a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to future undiscounted net 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 property level which is described in Note 2 above. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges associated with long-lived assets during the three year period ended December 31, 2017.

Depletion allowances - The Company pays depletion allowances to its distributors based on their sales to their customers. These allowances are estimated on a monthly basis by the Company, and allowances are accrued as a reduction of sales. Subsequently, distributors will bill the Company for actual depletions, which may be different from the Company’s estimate. Any such differences are recognized in sales when the bill is received. The Company has historically been able to estimate depletion allowances without any material differences between actual and estimated expense.

(b) Consolidation policy: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period consolidated balance sheet and statement of cash flows to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on previously reported net income, equity or cash flows.

(c) Cash and cash equivalents: The Company considers short-term investments, which have maturities of less than three months at the time of acquisition, to be cash equivalents. The Company had no short-term investments considered to be cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

(d) Financial instruments and fair value: Investments available for sale include a U.S. Treasury Note and Certificates of Deposits at December 31, 2017 and 2016. All of the Company’s available for sale securities are classified as either Level 1 or Level 2 (see ‘Fair value hierarchy’ section below) and are recorded at fair value. Available for sale securities that mature greater than 12 months from original investment are recorded as short-term because the securities represent the investment of funds that are available for current operations. Net unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, on available for sale securities are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Unrealized losses that are considered other than temporary are recorded in other income (expense) – net, with the corresponding reduction to the carrying basis of the investment. No other than temporary losses were recorded during the three year period ended December 31, 2017.

Fair value hierarchy: In determining fair value, the Company maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The Company applies a hierarchy to categorize its fair value measurements which is broken down into three levels based on the transparency of inputs as follows:



Level 1:	Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the reported date.

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Level 2:	Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reported date. The nature of these financial instruments include cash instruments for which quoted prices are available but traded less frequently, derivative instruments whose fair value has been derived using a model where inputs to the model are directly observable in the market, or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data, and instruments that are fair valued using other financial instruments, the parameters of which can be directly observed.



Level 3:	Instruments that have little to no pricing observability at the reported date. These financial instruments are measured using management’s best estimate of fair value, where the inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation.

Financial instruments are valued at quoted market prices, if available. Certain financial instruments have bid and ask prices that can be observed in the marketplace. For financial instruments whose inputs are based on bid-ask prices, the financial instrument is valued at the point within the bid-ask range that meets the Company’s best estimate of fair value. The Company uses prices and inputs that are current at the measurement date. For financial instruments that do not have readily determinable fair values using quoted market prices, the determination of fair value is based upon consideration of available information, including types of financial instruments, current financial information, restrictions on dispositions, fair values of underlying financial instruments and quotations for similar instruments.

The valuation of financial instruments may include the use of valuation models and other techniques. Adjustments to valuations derived from valuation models may be made when, in management’s judgment, features of the financial instrument such as its complexity, the market in which the financial instrument is traded and risk uncertainties about market conditions require that an adjustment be made to the value derived from the models. Adjustments from the price derived from a valuation model reflect management’s judgment that other participants in the market for the financial instrument being measured at fair value would also consider in valuing that same financial instrument. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment.

The availability of observable inputs can vary and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of financial instrument and market conditions. As the observability of prices and inputs may change for a financial instrument from period to period, this condition may cause a transfer of an instrument among the fair value hierarchy levels. Transfers among the levels are recognized at the beginning of each period. The degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

(e) Accounts receivable: Accounts receivable are reported at net realizable value. The Company’s accounts receivable balance is net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.1 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016. Interest is not accrued on past-due amounts. Accounts are charged against the allowance to bad debt as they are deemed uncollectible based upon a periodic review of the accounts. In evaluating the collectability of individual receivable balances, the Company considers several factors, including the age of the balance, the customer’s historical payment history, its current credit worthiness and current economic trends.

(f) Property and equipment: Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the related assets estimated useful lives. Costs of maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred; significant renewals and betterments are capitalized. Costs incurred developing vineyards are capitalized until the vineyard becomes commercially productive. Interest is capitalized during the active construction period of major capital projects. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying assets and is depreciated over the useful lives of those assets. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 capitalized interest was $0.2 million, $0.1 million, and zero, respectively.

(g) Loan fees: Fees incurred with the issuance of the Company’s debt are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets as a reduction to associated debt balances, consistent with the short-term or long-term classification of the related debt outstanding at the end of the reporting period. The Company amortizes debt discount to interest expense over the contractual or expected term of the debt using the effective interest method.

(h) Concentrations of risk: The Company sells the majority of its wine through distributors and retailers. Receivables arising from these sales are not collateralized. During the year ended December 31, 2017, sales to one customer accounted for approximately 12% of total sales. Amounts due from this customer represented 23% of net accounts receivable as of December 31, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2016, sales to one customer accounted for approximately 12% of net sales. Amounts due from this customer represented approximately 22% of net accounts receivable as of December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2015 sales to two customers accounted for approximately 15% and 10% of total sales.

The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts that, at times, may exceed FDIC insurance thresholds.

(i) Revenue recognition: The Company recognizes revenue from product sales upon shipment or delivery provided that persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, which for sales to wholesalers is a purchase order, the price is fixed, title has transferred, collection of resulting receivables is reasonably assured, there are no customer acceptance requirements, and there are no remaining significant obligations. The cost of depletion allowances and price promotions are treated as reductions of revenues and can be reasonably estimated based upon experience. Revenue from products sold through retail locations, wine clubs and the internet is recognized when the product is either received by the customer (on-site sales) or shipped to the customer (wine club and internet sales) and payment is received, based on published retail prices and applicable published discounts. Revenue includes any shipping and handling costs billed to the customer, and such amounts are not expected to be sufficient to cover actual costs.

(j) Cost of sales: Includes grape, juice and bulk wine costs, whether purchased or grown, crush costs, winemaking and processing costs, bottling, packaging, warehousing and shipping and handling costs. For vineyard produced grapes, grape costs include annual farming costs and amortization of vineyard development expenditures. For wines that age longer than one year, winemaking and processing costs continue to be incurred and capitalized to the cost of wine, which can range from 3 to 36 months. No further costs are allocated to inventory once the product is bottled and available for sale.

(k) Taxes not on income: Excise taxes are levied by government agencies on the sale of alcoholic beverages, including wine. These taxes are not collected from customers but are instead the responsibility of the Company. Excise taxes of $1.1 million, $1.2 million and $1.1 million in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were recognized as a reduction to wine sales. Sales taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to governmental agencies are not reflected as revenues.

(l) Advertising costs: Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and $0.3 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

(m) Website and internal-use software costs: The Company capitalizes certain qualifying costs incurred in the acquisition and development of software for internal use, including the costs of the software, materials, consultants and payroll and payroll-related costs for employees during the application development stage. Internal and external costs incurred during the preliminary project stage and post implementation-operation stage, mainly training and maintenance costs, are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred for enhancements that are expected to result in additional material functionality are capitalized. Once the application is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, qualifying costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the software’s estimated useful life.

(n) Business combinations: Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. The acquisition method of accounting requires an acquirer to record the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. To determine the fair values, the Company utilizes third parties for certain valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. The excess of the purchase price over those fair values is recorded as goodwill. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. During the measurement period, the Company records adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. After the measurement period, which could be up to one year after the acquisition date, subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Company’s consolidated income statements.

(o) Income taxes: Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enacted date.

Net tax assets are recorded to the extent the Company believes these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making such determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial results of operations.

The Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits; however, if it did, the Company would record accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. The Company records deferred income tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent in its consolidated balance sheets (see ‘Recent accounting pronouncements’ section within this footnote of Form 10-K for additional information on the adoption of this policy). See Note 12 for more detail on income tax for the Company.

(p) Recent accounting pronouncements:

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Standard	Description	Date of adoption	Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
Standards that are not yet adopted
Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (Subsequently updated with ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-11, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, ASU 2016-20, ASU 2017-13 and ASU 2017-14)	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), as amended, which is guidance outlining a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers that supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. Topic 606 defines a five step process to require revenue to be recognized when control of goods is transferred to the customer and consideration is expected to be received. ASU 2014-09 also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments related to revenue recognition.	January 1, 2018	The Company will adopt ASU 2014-09 using the modified retrospective method in Q1 2018. The Company has drafted its accounting policy for the new standard based on a detailed review of its business and contracts. Based on the new guidance, the Company expects to continue to recognize revenue at a particular point in time for the majority of its contracts with customers. Therefore, the adoption of ASC 606 is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The Company anticipates it will expand its consolidated financial statement disclosures in order to comply with the disclosure requirements of the ASU beginning in the first quarter of 2018.
ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10)	Requires equity investments that are not accounted for under the equity method of accounting to be measured at fair value with changes recognized in net income and updates certain presentation and disclosure requirements.	January 1, 2018	The adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.



Standard	Description	Date of adoption	Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (Subsequently updated with ASU 2018-01)	Increases transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The new leases standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief.	January 1, 2019, early adoption is permitted for the Company.	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements and has yet to determine the overall impact this ASU is expected to have. Management currently anticipates recognizing a right-of-use asset and a lease liability associated with its long-term operating leases.
ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805)	Clarifies the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses.	January 1, 2018	The adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2017-04, Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)	Eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Entities should perform their goodwill impairment tests by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.	January 1, 2020, early adoption is permitted for the Company.	Management is currently evaluating the potential impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)	Allows the company to elect to reclassify the stranded tax effects related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 from accumulated other comprehensive income into retained earnings.	January 1, 2019, early adoption is permitted for the Company.	Management is currently evaluating the potential impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Standards that were adopted
ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)	Amends the guidance in Topic 230 on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The primary purpose of the ASU is to reduce the diversity in practice that has resulted from the lack of consistent principles on this topic.	January 1, 2017	The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330)	Topic 330, Inventory, required an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market, with market value represented by replacement cost, net realizable value or net realizable value less a normal profit margin. The amendments in ASU 2015-11 require an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value.	January 1, 2017	The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40)	In connection with preparing financial statements for each annual and interim reporting period, an entity’s management should evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or within one year after the date that the financial statements are available to be issued when applicable).	December 31, 2016	The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.



Standard	Description	Date of adoption	Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
ASU 2017-03, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323)	ASU 2017-03 responds to SEC staff announcements made in 2016 as it relates to the disclosure of the future impact of the effects of the new FASB guidance on revenue, leases and credit losses on financial instruments in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin 74.	ASU 2017-03 was effective upon issuance in January 2017.	As of January 1, 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2017-03 and made the required disclosures within this section of the Form 10-K.