EXHIBIT 23.1
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          Stamford Square
          3001 Summer Street
          Stamford, CT 06905



                        Consent of Independent Auditors


The Board of Directors
Canandaigua Brands, Inc.:


We consent to the  incorporation  by  reference in the  registration  statements
(Nos. 33-26694,  33-56557 and 333-88391) on Form S-8 and (No. 333-67037) on Form
S-3 of Canandaigua  Brands, Inc. of our report dated June 24, 1999, with respect
to the statement of assets and liabilities  related to the product lines sold to
Canandaigua  Brands,  Inc.  as of April 9,  1999 and the  related  statement  of
identified  income and  expenses for the year ended  December  31,  1998,  which
report  appears in the Form 8-K/A  Amendment No. 2 of Canandaigua  Brands,  Inc.
dated April 9, 1999.


/s/ KPMG LLP

November 22, 1999






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