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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L+vTCL0pDQ0BuY0Lm0FoFhgNynAYAAqWnU1YlcVr2oTsShz8/tyx6wkj+Fr8nYpj
 1XDVnN7PDcxF74o/blH4qQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001188112-03-000672.txt : 20031001
<SEC-HEADER>0001188112-03-000672.hdr.sgml : 20031001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031001185131
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001188112-03-000672
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DIEFENBACH JOHN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001243314

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13406
		FILM NUMBER:		03921942

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CHALONE WINE GROUP LTD
		STREET 2:		621 AIRPARK RD
		CITY:			NEPA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94558 6272
		BUSINESS PHONE:		707 254 4200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHALONE WINE GROUP LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000742685
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BEVERAGES [2080]
		IRS NUMBER:				941696731
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		621 AIRPARK RD
		CITY:			NAPA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94558
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(707) 254-4200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		621 AIRPARK ROAD
		CITY:			NAPA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94558

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHALONE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910603
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000742685</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHALONE WINE GROUP LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHLN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243314</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DIEFENBACH JOHN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHALONE WINE GROUP,LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>621 AIRPARK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94558</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.841</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-09-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of option pursuant to Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan. Exercisable in 1/3 increments on the last day of the first, second and third months following the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Shawn Conroy Blom, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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