EXHIBIT 5.1

FARELLA BRAUN & MARTEL LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

RUSS BUILDING, 30TH FLOOR
235 MONTGOMERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104

TELEPHONE: (415) 954-4400
FACSIMILE: (415) 954-4480

WINE COUNTRY OFFICE
TELEPHONE: (707) 967-4000

DIRECT: (415) 954-4419


June 8, 1999

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

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8 - 1997 Stock Option Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         You have  requested  our  opinion  with  respect to certain  matters in
connection with the filing by The Chalone Wine Group,  Ltd. (the "Company") of a
Registration  Statement  on Form S-8  (the  "Registration  Statement")  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission covering the offering of 1,000,000 shares of
the Company's  Common Stock (the  "Shares"),  issuable  under the Company's 1997
Stock  Option  Plan (the  "Plan").  In  connection  with this  opinion,  we have
examined the Registration Statement, 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,  the  conformity  to  originals of all  documents
submitted to us as 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 Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         We  consent  to  the  filing  of  this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement.


                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                  /s/ Farella Braun & Martel LLP
                                                  Farella Braun & Martel LLP

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