8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  December 20, 2004

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-08495	16-0716709
(State or other jurisdication of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

370 Woodcliff Drive, Suite 300, Fairport, New York	14450
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (585) 218-3600

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a.12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 7.01. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

On December 20, 2004, Constellation Brands, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, issued a press release (the "release"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information included in this Form 8-K, including the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1, is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01 in satisfaction of the public disclosure requirements of Regulation FD. This information is "furnished" and not "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. It may only be incorporated by reference in another filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Securities Act of 1933 only if and to the extent such subsequent filing specifically references the information incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) The following exhibit is furnished as part of this Form 8-K.

No. Description

99.1 Press Release of Constellation Brands, Inc. (the "Company"), dated December 20, 2004.

SIGNATURES

 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.
Date:  December 20, 2004	By:	/s/ Thomas S. Summer
		Thomas S. Summer, Executive Vice President
		and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit Number	Description
(1)	UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
	Not Applicable.
(2)	PLAN OF ACQUISITION, REORGANIZATION, ARRANGEMENT, LIQUIDATION OR SUCCESSION
	Not Applicable.
(3)	ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
	Not Applicable.
(4)	INSTRUMENTS DEFINING THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS, INCLUDING INDENTURES
	Not Applicable.
(7)	CORRESPONDENCE FROM AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT REGARDING NON-RELIANCE ON A PREVIOUSLY ISSUED AUDIT REPORT OR COMPLETED INTERIM REVIEW
	Not Applicable.
(14)	CODE OF ETHICS
	Not Applicable.
(16)	LETTER RE CHANGE IN CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
	Not Applicable.
(17)	CORRESPONDENCE ON DEPARTURE OF DIRECTOR
	Not Applicable.
(20)	OTHER DOCUMENTS OR STATEMENTS TO SECURITY HOLDERS
	Not Applicable.
(23)	CONSENTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
	Not Applicable.
(24)	POWER OF ATTORNEY
	Not Applicable.
(99)	ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS
	Press Release dated December 20, 2004.

EX-99

[Constellation Logo]

NEWS RELEASE	CONTACTS:
	Media Relations:
	Philippa Dworkin - 585-218-3733
	Mike Martin - 585-218-3669
	Investor Relations:
	Lisa Schnorr - 585-218-3677
	Bob Czudak - 585-218-3668

Constellation Brands Concurs With Partners

in Decision to Forego Chalone

FAIRPORT, N.Y., Dec. 20, 2004 - Constellation Brands announced today that it supports the decision made by its joint venture partners, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Huneeus Vintners LLC, not to match a competing offer submitted for the purchase of The Chalone Wine Group, Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHLN) at $14.25 per share.

“We are disciplined buyers and see no reason to bid up the price of Chalone,” commented Richard Sands, Constellation Brands chairman and chief executive officer. “There are many other opportunities that we can explore with our joint venture partners, and we will. It is our desire to work together with our long-time friends at Huneeus Vintners, as well as our new friends at DBR, to create a new California fine wine portfolio in the near future.”

On Oct. 30, 2004, DBR signed a merger agreement with The Chalone Wine Group to purchase the latter for $11.75 per share, which was approved by the Chalone board of directors, following a recommendation for such approval by the special committee of independent directors formed to review and evaluate the proposed offer. The offer would have resulted in DBR taking Chalone private and the subsequent formation of a joint venture with Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ, ASX: CBR) and Huneeus Vintners LLC, to produce fine California wines.

DBR, owned by the Rothschild family and Chateau Lafite Rothschild, owns and operates a prestigious set of wine properties in France, Chile, Portugal and Argentina, which produce and sell a selection of ultra premium and luxury wines.

Huneeus Vintners LLC, owned by The Huneeus Family, and founded by Agustin Huneeus, is a privately held wine company in Napa, Calif., owning the Quintessa Estate and other vineyard properties. Agustin Huneeus has based his successful career in the wine industry on his belief that “Great wines are a reflection of place.” He and his wife Valeria purchased the 280-acre Quintessa property in 1990 and developed Quintessa into a world-class wine estate.

Constellation Brands, Inc. is a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol brands with a broad portfolio across the wine, spirits and imported beer categories. Constellation Brands is also the largest fine wine company in the United States. Well-known brands in Constellation’s beverage alcohol portfolio include: Corona Extra, Pacifico, St. Pauli Girl, Black Velvet, Fleischmann’s, Mr. Boston, Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy, Franciscan Oakville Estate, Estancia, Simi, Ravenswood, Blackstone, Banrock Station, Hardys, Nobilo, Alice White, Vendange, Almaden, Arbor Mist, Stowells and Blackthorn. For more information about Constellation Brands and its products, visit the company’s Web site at www.cbrands. com.

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