<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Company's  August  31,  1995  Form  10-K and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0000016918
<NAME> CANANDAIGUA WINE COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                                                           1,000
       
 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                                           YEAR 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                                AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                                                     AUG-31-1995
<CASH>                                                                                                 4,180
<SECURITIES>                                                                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                                        115,448
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                                               0
<INVENTORY>                                                                                          256,811
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                                     401,509
<PP&E>                                                                                               294,982
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                                        77,477
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                                       785,921
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                                                174,753
<BONDS>                                                                                              198,859
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                                                                0
<COMMON>                                                                                                 214
<OTHER-SE>                                                                                           351,668
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                                         785,921
<SALES>                                                                                              906,544
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                                     906,544
<CGS>                                                                                                653,811
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                                        653,811
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                                           0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                                    25,121
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                                       66,698
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                                          25,678
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                                   41,020
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                                          41,020
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                                           2.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                                           2.13