Exhibit 5.1



                                                                 March 15, 2001



Ravenswood Winery, Inc.
18701 Gehricke Road
Sonoma, California  95476

         Re:      1999 Equity Incentive Plan (the "1999 Plan")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         You have  requested  our  opinion  with  respect to certain  matters in
connection  with the filing by  Ravenswood  Winery,  Inc.  (the  "Company") of a
Registration  Statement  on Form S-8  (the  "Registration  Statement")  with the
Securities & Exchange  Commission covering the offering of 250,000 shares of the
Company's  Common Stock (the "Shares") under the Company's 1999 Equity Incentive
Plan (the "1999 Plan").

         In  connection  with this opinion,  we have  examined the  Registration
Statement and related  prospectus,  your Articles of Incorporation,  as amended,
and  Bylaws,  as  amended,  and such  other  documents,  records,  certificates,
memoranda  and  other  instruments  as we deem  necessary  as a basis  for  this
opinion.  We have assumed the  genuineness  and  authenticity  of all  documents
submitted  to us as  originals  or copies  thereof,  and the due  execution  and
delivery of all documents where due execution and delivery are a prerequisite to
the effectiveness thereof.

         On the basis of the foregoing,  and in reliance thereon,  we are of the
opinion  that  the  Shares,   when  sold  and  issued  in  accordance  with  the
Registration Statement and the 1999 Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ FARELLA BRAUN + MARTEL LLP

                                           FARELLA BRAUN + MARTEL LLP