EXHIBIT 23.1


                         Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Independent Auditors"
and to the use of our report dated May 28, 1999,  in the  Amendment No. 3 to the
Registration  Statement  (Form S-4) and related  Prospectus  of National  Wine &
Spirits, Inc. dated June 14, 1999.

Our audits also  included the  financial  statement  schedule of National Wine &
Spirits,  Inc.  listed  in the  accompanying  index to  exhibits  and  financial
statement  schedules  (Item 21), as it relates to the years ended March 31, 1999
and 1998. This schedule is the responsibility of the Company's  management.  Our
responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, the
valuation and qualifying accounts schedule referred to above, when considered in
relation  to the  basic  consolidated  financial  statements  taken  as a whole,
presents  fairly in all material  respects the information set forth therein for
the years ended March 31, 1999 and 1998.


                                     /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana
June 10, 1999