During Prohibition, Englishwoman Elizabeth Rambeau joins her winemaking California family, but while some see her as an unwanted "poor relation," others covet her affections, including her troublemaker playboy cousin John Rambeau.

In 1931, Elizabeth Rambeau comes from England to live in California with her aunt and uncle of a winemaking dynasty, who are still wealthy despite 12 years of Prohibition. Object: marriage to the heir of another vineyard, to further consolidate holdings in the Valley. But John Rambeau, Elizabeth's illegitimate cousin, has other ideas about who she should marry, and sharply opposes patriarch Philippe's refusal to sell wine grapes to bootleggers. John's activities bring soap opera to the Rambeau family and violence to the valley.—Rod Crawford <[email protected]>