For Further Information:

 

Scheid Vineyards Inc.  (Nasdaq: SVIN)

305 Hilltown Road

Salinas, CA 93908

(831) 455-9990

CONTACT:  Shawna Estrada, Director of Investor Relations

 

 

For Immediate Release:

November 14, 2001

 

 

SCHEID VINEYARDS INC. REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

 

President Gives Update on 2001 Harvest

 

SALINAS, CA - November 14, 2001 - Scheid Vineyards Inc. (Nasdaq:  SVIN) announced today its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2001.

 

            For the three months ended September 30, 2001, revenues were $9,773,000 as compared to $10,305,000 in the 2000 period.  Net income was $1,749,000, or $0.32 per share, for the 2001 period as compared to $2,597,000, or $0.47 per share, for the 2000 period. 

 

            For the nine months ended September 30, 2001, revenues were $10,283,000 as compared to $10,809,000 in the 2000 period.  Net income was $86,000, or $0.02 per share, for the 2001 period as compared to $1,361,000, or $0.24 per share, for the 2000 period.  The weighted average number of shares outstanding decreased to 5.5 million in 2001 from 5.6 million in 2000.

           

            Mr. Mike Thomsen, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, stated, “The revenue decreases for the 2001 periods were primarily due to the fact that through September 30, 2001, the Company had harvested 49% of its producing acres as compared to 53% at September 30, 2000.”  In addition, Mr. Thomsen stated, “Net income decreases for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 as compared to September 30, 2000 were due primarily to the costs associated with the relocation of the Company’s executive office from Marina del Rey, California to Salinas, California.”

           

 

            Commenting on the 2001 harvest, Scott D. Scheid, President of the Company, stated, “The Company completed the harvest of its own vineyards on November 7, with total tons harvested in 2001 approximately 25% more than in 2000.   Acres in partial or full production increased approximately 17% in 2001.  The 2001 growing season for Scheid Vineyards was similar to most growers in the state, with some minor frost damage in April, heat waves in May and June, followed by a cool late summer and fall.  The cold spells coupled with heat spikes resulted in extended hang time, allowing for the complete physiological maturity and ripening of the grapes, with quality generally being described by industry experts as good to excellent.”

 

            Mr. Scheid continued, “We are currently estimating that revenues for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2001 will be in excess of $20 million, an increase of over 15% from fiscal 2000 revenues.  We caution that historical amounts of cost of sales and other expenses deducted in arriving at net income, and historical and third quarter 2001 ratios of cost of sales and other expenses to revenues, should not be expected to provide an indication of gross profit or net income to be reported by the Company for fiscal 2001. ”

 

            Scheid Vineyards Inc. is a leading independent producer of premium wine grapes and operates approximately 6,000 acres of vineyards, primarily in Monterey County, California.  The Company sells most of its grape production under long-term contracts to wineries producing primarily premium quality table wines, and the Company also produces a small amount of ultra premium wine under its own labels.

 

 

Note:  This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning expectations for the 2001 harvest and the Company’s 2001 financial performance.  These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement will include such words as the Company “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” or words of similar import.  Similarly, statements that describe the Company’s future operating performance, financial results, plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements.  Such forward looking statements are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated.  Such factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (i) success in planting, cultivating and harvesting of existing and new vineyards, including the effects of weather conditions, (ii) the potential effect on the Company’s vineyards of certain diseases, insects and pests, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter, (iii) effects of variances in grape yields and prices from harvest to harvest due to agricultural, market and other factors and relatively fixed farming costs, (iv) success in, and the timing of, future acquisitions, if any, of additional properties for vineyard development and related businesses as well as variability in acquisition and development costs, (v) consumer demand and preferences for the wine grape varieties produced by the Company, (vi) general health and social concerns regarding consumption of wine and spirits, (vii) the size and growth rate of the California wine industry, (viii) seasonality of the wine grape producing business, (ix) increases or changes in government regulations regarding environmental impact, water use, labor or consumption of alcoholic beverages, (x) competition from other producers and wineries, (xi) proposed expansion of the Company’s wine business, (xii) the Company’s dependence on a small number of clients for the purchase of a substantial portion of the Company’s grape production, (xiii) the availability of financing on terms acceptable to the Company, and (xiv) the Company’s labor relations.  These and other factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail under the caption “Business - Cautionary Information Regarding Forward Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2001.  Stockholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undo reliance on such forward-looking statements.  The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.


 

 

SCHEID VINEYARDS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)


 

 

Three Months Ended

 September  30,

Nine  Months Ended

September  30,

 

2001

2000

2001

2000

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

   Sales

$      9,587

$     10,127

$       9,714

$    10,243

   Vineyard management, services and other fees           

     186

     178

    569

    566

         Total revenues    

9,773

10,305

10,283

10,809

COST OF SALES      

  5,538

  5,108

  5,758

  5,252

GROSS PROFIT       

4,235

5,197

4,525

5,557

    General and administrative expenses  

1,031

934

3,560

2,870

     Interest expense (income), net          

    289

    (65)

    822

    419

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION  

2,915

4,328

143

2,268

INCOME TAX PROVISION            

 1,166

 1,731

      57

    907

NET INCOME          

$     1,749

$     2,597

 

$          86

$     1,361

BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME

  PER SHARE            

$       0.32

$       0.47

$       0.02

$       0.24

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

   5,476

   5,547

   5,493

   5,607

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

##########