He then finally returns to his guests who ‘surprise’ him with news of his impending accolade. She’s seen Ric’s car outside, but before she can ask too many questions Adrian shoos her off home to pack some ‘splendid gowns’ for the trip. He receives another surprise, though, as officious secretary Karen Fielding is outside his office prepping for the pair’s looming wine-buying trip to New York. Showing remarkable composure, Adrian gathers the claret and heads back to his guests.
He snatches up a heavy object and smashes Ric over the head. There’s no love lost between the Carsini kids…Īdrian is unimpressed and the two trade barbs before Ric slips in the sucker punch: he’s planning to sell the land the winery is built on to mass-market wine producers, the Marino Brothers!Īdrian is livid! The prospect of losing the one thing that has meaning for him stings him into action. He’s come to Adrian seeking a $5000 loan so he can jet to Acapulco to get married for the fourth time. Polar opposites in every way, Ric is sick of Adrian’s pursuit of wine perfection over financial gain. The wind is taken out of his sails, however, when he’s confronted in his office by hedonistic half-brother Ric. Ear-wigging in via intercom, he overhears his fellow connoisseurs confirming that they’re about to name Carsini as the Wine Society’s ‘Man of the Year’. After some pleasantries, Adrian ducks out to fetch a bottle of fine claret from his office. Winemaker extraordinaire Adrian Carsini is hosting an intimate Sunday shindig at the family winery for three highbrow cohorts. Score by: Dick De Benedictis Episode synopsis: Columbo Any Old Port in a Storm It’s a true fans’ favourite, but under critical analysis is Any Old Port in a Storm truly a vintage episode, or is it comparative swill? To put it another way, is it a Ferrier Port, or a Marino Brothers carbonated rosé? I can’t wait to find out…
Columbo was in exulted company on 7 October 1973, as the second episode of Season 3 pitted him against his most highbrow opponent yet: wine connoisseur Adrian Carsini.