<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 03/31/98
     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>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                          2,232
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   6,689
<ALLOWANCES>                                       92
<INVENTORY>                                    34,277
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               43,832
<PP&E>                                         48,036
<DEPRECIATION>                                 17,905
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 90,294
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          16,038
<BONDS>                                         8,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                       46,871
<OTHER-SE>                                      3,534
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   90,294
<SALES>                                        36,755
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               38,310
<CGS>                                          20,539
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  28,686
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              1,872
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 5,731
<INCOME-TAX>                                    2,321
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             3,410
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                    3,410
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.41