<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001081971 <NAME> NATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> Year <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 1,908 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 38,340 <ALLOWANCES> 1,298 <INVENTORY> 67,961 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 111,687 <PP&E> 79,771 <DEPRECIATION> 30,464 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 180,376 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 46,043 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 54 <OTHER-SE> 17,720 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 180,376 <SALES> 535,521 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 553,353 <CGS> 436,734 <TOTAL-COSTS> 541,368 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (529) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,037 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,477 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 318 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,159 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0