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                                                            EXHIBIT 11.1

                                             CANANDAIGUA BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                             COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

                                               (in thousands, except per share data)

<CAPTION>
                                            For the Years Ended February 28,        For the Six Months Ended      For the Year Ended
                                           ----------------------------------  ---------------------------------- ------------------
                                                                                 February 29,      February 28,       August 31,   
                                                 1998              1997              1996              1995              1995      
                                           ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
                                                                                                    (unaudited)                    
Earnings per common share:                  Basic   Diluted   Basic   Diluted   Basic   Diluted   Basic   Diluted   Basic   Diluted
                                           -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
<S>                                        <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>    
Income applicable to common shares         $50,071  $50,071  $27,675  $27,675  $ 3,322  $ 3,322  $20,320  $20,320  $41,020  $41,020
Adjustments                                   --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --  
                                           -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Income applicable to common shares         $50,071  $50,071  $27,675  $27,675  $ 3,322  $ 3,322  $20,320  $20,320  $41,020  $41,020
                                           -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Shares:                                                                                                                            
Weighted average common shares outstanding  18,672   18,672   19,333   19,333   19,611   19,611   17,989   17,989   18,776   18,776
Adjustments:                                                                                                                       
(1) Assumed exercise of incentive stock                                                                                            
    options                                   --        423     --        179     --        129     --        152     --        155
(2) Assumed exercise of options/employee                                                                                           
    stock purchases                           --         10     --          9     --         67     --         38     --         74
                                           -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Weighted average common shares outstanding  18,672   19,105   19,333   19,521   19,611   19,807   17,989   18,179   18,776   19,005
                                           -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Earnings per common share                  $  2.68  $  2.62  $  1.43  $  1.42  $  0.17  $  0.17  $  1.13  $  1.12  $  2.18  $  2.16
                                           =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======
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