EXHIBIT 5.1

                   [LETTERHEAD OF FARELLA BRAUN & MARTEL, LLP]


                                January 26, 1999



The Chalone Wine Group, Ltd.
621 Airpark Road
Napa, CA  94558

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration  Statement on Form S-3 to be filed by
you with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  on or about January 27, 1999
(the  "Registration  Statement") in connection with the  registration  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  of a total of 142,857 shares of your common
stock,  no par  value, (the  "Shares"),  to be  sold  by  that  certain  selling
shareholder listed in the Registration Statement (the "Selling Shareholder"). As
your legal counsel, we have examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with
the  proceedings  proposed to be taken by you in connection with the sale of the
Shares by the Selling  Shareholder  in the manner set forth in the  Registration
Statement in the section entitled "Plan of Distribution."

         It is our opinion that the Shares, when sold by the Selling Shareholder
in the manner  referred to in the  Registration  Statement,  will be legally and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby  consent  to being  named as  counsel  to the  Company in the
Registration  Statement, to the references therein to our firm under the caption
"Legal  Matters"  and to the  inclusion  of this  opinion  as an  exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

         This  opinion is rendered by us as counsel for The Chalone  Wine Group,
Ltd.  solely for your benefit in connection with the transaction or transactions
contemplated  herein and may not be relied  upon by you in  connection  with any
other  transaction  and may not be relied upon by any other  person  without our
prior written consent.

         This opinion  speaks only as of its date and we assume no obligation to
update this opinion should circumstances change after the date hereof.


                                                 Very truly yours,


                                                 /s/ FARELLA BRAUN & MARTEL, LLP