Michel, a sophisticated, self-assertive French woman, is hired to direct Spritzer, a macho, opinionated winemaker, to reinvent a debt-ridden jug winery into the best champaign winery in California - leading to a love story as rich and complex as the successful sparkling wine they create.

SYNOPSIS:

A crop duster flies over a vineyard where a memorial service is being held for Tom, the deceased owner of the vineyard. The plane begins releasing a white powder. Spritzer (20s) opens an umbrella, sheltering his Aunt Bell (80s) and his girlfriend, Kan (20s). Kan asks why they are crop-dusting now. Spritzer says it’s his Uncle Tom’s ashes.

Belle, a world-famous ceramicist, has inherited this top Sonoma County jug winery from her brother. It is a successful business but debt-ridden because of her brother's gambling.

Her grandnephew, Spritzer efficiently runs the jug winery. But Belle wants to fulfill her father's dream of creating the best champagne in California. However, they are in grave danger of losing the vineyard to Nelson (30s), Spritzer’s cousin, a wine wholesaler, who holds the mortgage on the vineyard and wants to call in the loan. Belle, however, decides to put her own money into the enterprise to rescue it and produce some great champagne.

Belle hires a top champagne maker from France, Michel Fouchon. This chef du cave turns out to be a very sophisticated French woman in her early 30s, strong, opinionated, and an equal match for the rowdy and plain-speaking Spritzer.

They agree on nothing. Michel insists on the proven old-world champagne-making methods, while Spritzer wants to use modern techniques and shortcuts.

Spritzer fights Michel all the way, but slowly he begins to see the value of her insistence on quality.

Spritzer and his girlfriend, Kan, have been friends since they were kids and are in a casual sexual relationship. But with Michel’s arrival, Kan becomes jealous, seeing Michel as a threat to her romantic aspirations.

Nelson is intrigued with Michel and interested in a romantic attachment, pushing hard to win her over. As Spritzer witnesses Nelson’s pursuit, he surprises himself by becoming jealous, even though Michel says she has no interest in Nelson.

But the progress in the champagne making is taking longer than expected, with many obstacles to overcome, and the money is running out. Michel enters their wine in a prestigious wine contest in San Francisco, hoping that a win will boost the price of their first release.

Unexpectedly, Spritzer’s and Michel’s affection grows during a dance at Belle’s annual harvest festival. They try to deny this attraction but cannot resist the power of their growing love.

Belle suffers a fall that breaks her hip, which leads to a slow recovery and the realization of her mortality. She gives up her ceramic work and begins to contemplate her legacy.

The first release of the wine is now ready and they are hoping for success at the wine contest. To their great surprise and delight, their wine wins second place in the sparkling wine division - unheard of with a debut wine. They are suddenly inundated with orders and reporters, but Nelson buys their whole first release at a price way above what they need to keep the new winery solvent, and they can now count on creating a second release

At the end of the second year, Michel’s contract is about up and Spritzer, now very much in love with her, asks her to stay on so they can work and be together. Michel says she must go back to France. But Spritzer says the truth is, she is afraid of commitment. However, he is unable to persuade her to stay and she returns to France.

A year later Belle, wiser in affairs of the heart, has the solution to his loss of Michel. Belle informs Spritzer she is making him a 51% heir to the jug winery and Nelson a 49% heir. And in the champagne winery, she is making him a 49% heir and Michel the 51% heir. She sends Spritzer to France to enter the second release of their champagne in a contest being held where Michel is also entering wine. He shows up, surprising her, and again, to his great delight, his wine wins an award. He and Michel recognize they still love each other and celebrate both his win and their reunion. He then informs her of her inheritance and the closing image is of them tossing their champagne glasses in the air.