While Martin is wracked with guilt over his red-hot romance with his late partner’s wife, Claire Wojadubakows ki, Frasier dreams of becoming the corkmaster at the wine club to which he and Niles belong. In an effort to get to know Niles’ girlfriend, Mel, better, Frasier decides to throw a brunch for her, unaware that Mel is busy lobbying Niles to run for corkmaster himself.

When it’s time for the wine club to vote, Frasier is stunned when Niles runs against him. Although the brothers nominate each other, they try their hardest to win. Locked in a dead heat, Niles manages to beat Frasier at a tie-breaking wine-tasting test and is toasted as the new corkmaster, to Mel’s delight.

The morning of Frasier’s brunch, Martin’s secret fling with Claire comes out into the open. To Martin’s surprise, Frasier approves of the relationship. Howe ver, the gang isn’t so accepting of Niles’ relationship with Mel, especially after they learn that she pushed him to run for corkmaster. Rattled by everyone’s reaction to his new love, Niles walks out and refuses to return Frasier’s calls, w hile Martin decides to continue dating Claire.