<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM 12/31/97
BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000742685
<NAME>                        THE CHALONE WINE GROUP, LTD.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          63
<SECURITIES>                                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   7,838
<ALLOWANCES>                                    76
<INVENTORY>                                     32,872
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                42,668
<PP&E>                                          0
<DEPRECIATION>                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           19,111
<BONDS>                                         8,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0
<PREFERRED>                                     0
<COMMON>                                        41,968
<OTHER-SE>                                      0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    86,852
<SALES>                                         10,935
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                11,178
<CGS>                                           6,057
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   8,096
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              387
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 2,340
<INCOME-TAX>                                    936
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             1,404
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0
<CHANGES>                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    1,404
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   0.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   0.17