EX-99.10

                                 October 9, 2001


Mr. Christophe Salin
Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite)
33 Rue de la Baume
Paris, France 75008

Mr. Mark A. Hojel
SFI Intermediate Ltd. or its Affiliates
C/o Mr. Phillip M. Plant
Herndon Plant Oakley, Ltd.
One Shoreline Plaza
800 North Shoreline
Suite 2200, South Tower
Corpus, Christi, TX 78401-3700

Gentlemen:

         As you know, the Chalone Wine Group, Inc. (the "Company") has issued
promissory notes dated October 9, 2001 in the amounts of $6.2 million and $2.3
million to Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite) ("DBR") and to SFI
Intemediate, Ltd., A Texas limited partnership, or its affiliate ("SFI"),
respectively. The amounts advanced under these promissory notes are expected to
cover the Company's capital needs until the closing of its proposed sale of $15
million of the Company's common stock in a rights offering to its existing
shareholders ( the "Rights Offering"). The Company currently anticipates that
the Rights Offering will close no later than November 30, 2001.

         We have agreed that if the Rights Offering does not close by November
30, 2001, the Company has not withdrawn its Registration Statement on Form S-3
in connection with the Rights Offering and the Company reasonably anticipates
the closing of the Rights Offering not later than December 31, 2001, then DBR
and SFI shall provide the Company with up to an additional $6 million of bridge
financing upon commercially reasonable terms that the parties shall negotiate in
good faith.

         Your signatures below indicate that this letter correctly sets forth
the terms of our agreement.

                                   Sincerely,

                          The Chalone Wine Group, Ltd.
                                Shawn Conroy Blom
                             Chief Financial Officer



EX-99.10

AGREED:



Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite)   Date:  October 9, 2001
                                                 -------------------
By: /s/ Eric de Rothschild
   -------------------------------------

Name: Eric de Rothschild
     -----------------------------------

Title: Managing Partner
      ----------------------------------


SFI Intermediate Ltd. or its Affiliates     Date:  October 9, 2001
                                                 -------------------
By: /s/ Phyllis S. Hojel
   --------------------------------------------------------

Name: Phyllis S. Hojel
     ------------------------------------------------------

Title: President GHA 1 Holdings, Inc., its General Partner
      -----------------------------------------------------