Ravenswood Winery, Inc.


February 7, 2001



Via Facsimile and Edgar

Mr. Donald Rinehart
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporate Finance
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

         Re:      Ravenswood Winery, Inc.
                  Commission File No. 333-49030 - Application for Withdrawal

Dear Mr. Rinehart:

         Pursuant to Rule 477(a)  promulgated  under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, the undersigned  registrant (the "Registrant") hereby applies for an
Order granting the immediate  withdrawal of its  Registration  Statement on Form
S-3,  together  with  all  exhibits  thereto,   Commission  File  No.  333-49030
(collectively,  the "Registration  Statement").  The Registration  Statement was
originally filed with the Commission on October 31, 2000.

         Pursuant to the  Registration  Statement,  the  Registrant  proposed to
register  certain shares of its Common Stock,  $14.1875 par value per share (the
"Shares"),  for issuance to the public with a proposed maximum offering price of
$4,256,250.  The  Registrant  is no longer  obligated to register the Shares and
accordingly,  we request an Order  granting the  withdrawal of the  Registration
Statement be issued by the Commission as soon as possible.

         If  you  have  any  questions   regarding  the  foregoing   application
withdrawal,  please contact Maria Pizzoli of Farella Braun + Martel LLP at (415)
954-4464,  legal counsel to the Registrant in connection  with the  Registration
Statement.

                                                      Very truly yours,

                                                      /s/ W. Reed Foster
                                                      ------------------
                                                      W. Reed Foster
                                                      Chairman and
                                                      Chief Executive Officer