<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM 12/31/98
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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                               OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                             2,913
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      8,597
<ALLOWANCES>                                          79
<INVENTORY>                                       41,063
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  55,144
<PP&E>                                            33,573
<DEPRECIATION>                                     2,139
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   107,283
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             33,115
<BONDS>                                            8,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                          48,968
<OTHER-SE>                                         6,606
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     107,283
<SALES>                                           12,573
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  12,803
<CGS>                                              6,565
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      9,268
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       9
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   439
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    2,288
<INCOME-TAX>                                         936
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                1,352
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                       1,352
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.16