Falcon Crest

After his father's mysterious death, Chase Gioberti inherits 50 acres of Tuscany Valley vineyards that his aunt, Falcon Crest winery owner Angela Channing believes rightfully belongs to her.

Angela promises Chase's old friend Paul a large sum of money if he succeeds in getting the Giobertis off their land. But Paul's plan also endangers the Falcon Crest vineyards.

When Angela thwarts their attempts to raise money to pay a large tax bill, Chase and his family decide to sell their New York City house. Chase's son Cole agonizes over giving up his dream of becoming an archaeologist to help his father in the vineyards.

Disenchanted with unruly, irresponsible grandson Lance Cumson, Angela pretends to court Cole as heir to Falcon Crest. Lance bribes Chase's grape pickers not to harvest the Giobertis' crop.

Tony Cumson, Lance's father and Julia's husband, reappears after deserting them 12 years ago. Chase gets upset when Maggie takes a newspaper job working for Angela's ex-husband, Douglas Channing.

Cole is badly injured on a journey into a wilderness area with Chase and Lance. Thinking she's about to be sent to a mental institution, Emma runs away from Falcon Crest.

Emma Channing's lover, who was present the night Jason Gioberti died, blackmails Angela to keep the truth a secret. Maggie may be pregnant.

Angela takes Cole to a wine-tasting competition in Rome, where her ex-husband, Douglas Channing, proposes that they remarry. Chase learns that Lance is a very dangerous person.

When Chase and Maggies's daughter, Vicki, runs away to San Francisco to escape her overprotective parents, Lance introduces her to a woman involved in the pornographic film business.

Maggie's news reporting assignment uncovers an extortionist threatening Falcon Crest workers. Lance fears competition from Emma's unborn child for the family fortune, but Emma falls down a flight of stairs and miscarries.

Angela schemes to force Lance into marrying Melissa Agretti despite his love for another woman. Chase finds incriminating evidence against Angela, while she misleads him into believing that his father hated him.

Chase's wealthy mother, Jacqueline Perrault, returns to Falcon Crest, rekindling fear and hatred between Angela and her former sister-in-law, who has come to warn Chase of Angela's treacherous nature.

Angela struggles unsuccessfully to prevent Chase from being elected to the County Board of Supervisors. Emma is caught shoplifting in a jewelry store.

Angela sets out to destroy Melissa Agretti's budding romance with Cole. Chase and Maggie persuade Julia to take Emma to a psychiatric clinic, but Angela stops Julia with the truth about Emma killing Jason Gioberti.

Chase uses his political position to make inquiries into his father's death. A friend who Cole refuses to drive home after a party is killed in an auto accident. Melissa learns she's pregnant.

Lance is shattered when Melissa accepts his marriage proposal, and even more so when he finds out she's pregnant. Vicki and Mario decide to elope.

Chase persuades the district attorney to order a coroner's inquest into the death of Jason Gioberti. Before Emma has a chance to testify, Douglas Channing suffers a fatal seizure in the courtroom.

When Emma finally testifies that she pushed Jason Gioberti to his death, the jury awards Falcon Crest to Chase. Angela accepts Chase's offer of equal partnership while vowing to regain full control.