Just before dawn one late-summer morning, Bruno is pulled from sleep by the wail of the town siren atop the Mairie, summoning the volunteer firemen of St. Denis. A large barn and the fields surrounding it are ablaze. When Bruno arrives at the scene, the smell of gasoline leaves no doubt -- it was arson.

Soon after, a Californian wine mogul arrives with plans to buy half the valley and create an industrial-scale wine-making operation -- so long as the locals can deliver him the land and the coveted Appellation Controllée status. The mayor of St. Denis is eager to push the sale through, as it will bring much-needed money and jobs to the area. Bruno is not so certain. He feels his beloved little town will be ruined once the Californians have a foothold. The town is divided, and tensions are high.

When a body turns up in a vat of wine, it seems that someone is determined to stop the scheme at any cost. It is up to Bruno to use his skills, tact and local knowledge to find out the truth.