EXHIBIT 99.1


                                     CHALONE
                                   WINE GROUP

Acacia Vineyard Canoe Ridge Vineyard Chalone Vineyard Dynamite Vineyards Chateau
      Duhart-Milon Echelon Vineyards Edna Valley Vineyard Hewitt Vineyard
  Jade Mountain Moon Mountain Vineyard Provenance Vineyards Sagelands Vineyard
  ____________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                             CONTACT: Ken Morris
                                                                    707-254-4263


                THE CHALONE WINE GROUP BUYS WINERY IN RUTHERFORD
                        AS HOME FOR PROVENANCE VINEYARDS

Napa, California, August 27, 2002 --- The Chalone Wine Group, Ltd. (Nasdaq:
CHLN) has purchased a home in the heart of the Rutherford District for
Provenance Vineyards, its new Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon winery. CWG
acquired the winery known formerly as Chateau Beaucanon, located on Highway 29
in Rutherford.

By selecting some of the finest vineyards in the Rutherford, Oakville and
Carneros districts, Provenance VINEYARDS showcases the distinctiveness of Napa
Valley's best growing areas for red wine. Provenance's inaugural release in
December 2001 was the 1999 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, which quickly sold
out. The 2000 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon will be released in October 2002.
While focused on Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, the winery also makes a Merlot
and a Cabernet Sauvignon, each from a distinct Napa Valley district. Its
inaugural release of Napa Carneros Merlot will be later this year and its
first-ever Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon will be released in early 2003. These
approachable, age-worthy wines display a balance of elegance and substance that
is the signature style of Winemaker Tom Rinaldi. Before becoming founding
winemaker for Provenance, Rinaldi made 22 vintages at Duckhorn Wine Company,
where he was also the founding winemaker.

CWG President & CEO Tom Selfridge said, "We searched a long time to find the
right home for Provenance. Since its focus is Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, it
was important that the winery be in that appellation. So, when we found a winery
on Highway 29 in Rutherford, that also includes 45 acres of estate vineyard, we
felt it was the perfect fit for us."



The word provenance is derived from the French and means ORIGIN or SOURCE. The
provenance of a piece of art is the record of ownership from its creation to the
present. Connoisseurs use a provenance as a guarantee of a work's authenticity.
The name reflects the winery's goal of producing fine wines that are works of
art.


Chalone Wine Group, Ltd. is a Napa-based company specializing in premium red and
white varietal wines. In California, the Company owns and operates Provenance
Vineyards(TM), Hewitt Vineyard and Jade Mountain(R) in Napa County, Acacia(R)
Vineyard in the Carneros District of Napa County; Moon Mountain(R) Vineyards,
Carmenet(R) Vineyards, and Dynamite(R) Vineyards in Sonoma County; and Chalone
Vineyard(R) in Monterey County. In conjunction with its 50 percent joint-venture
partner, Paragon Vineyard Co., the Company also owns and operates Edna Valley
Vineyard(R) in San Luis Obispo County. Additionally, the Company produces and
markets wines of Central Coast appellation under the brand name Echelon
Vineyards. In Washington State, the Company owns and operates Sagelands(R)
Vineyard and Canoe Ridge(R) Vineyard. In the Bordeaux region of France, the
Company owns 23.5 percent of the fourth-growth estate of Chateau Duhart-Milon,
in partnership with Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) which owns the other
76.5 percent.