The launch of the latest sparkling wine by Midsomer Vinae Winery falls flat when wine critic Nadia Simons gives it a scathing review, then guests sampling the vintage start to collapse. Owner William Carnarvon suspects the Farmers Wives Association of trying to destroy his business while his wife Diana frets over her mother Matilda, one of the victims. Kate reveals the wine was laced with slug poison while campaigner and district nurse Elspeth Rice convenes an urgent meeting. At the nearby Vine Hotel, boss Louis Paynton tells detectives he sold his family’s farm to the Carnarvons to establish the winery. The villagers blame the vineyard for the death of 10-year-old Jessica Tyler, daughter of hotel porter Roger and his wife Judy, because Jessica was struck by a hit-and-run driver following an earlier boozy wine launch. Nadia’s car was seen speeding from the scene. Nadia is drinking again when a car drives straight at her. She recovers consciousness briefly only to find herself trapped in the vineyard’s fermentation room with no air supply. Louis’ son Kevin discovers her body – she died from carbon dioxide poisoning. Barnaby and Nelson search Nadia’s room and find cash and air tickets to the south of France.