Wine Wars: The Deus in the Machina

Wine Wars: The Deus in the Machina is a secondary quest in the Blood and Wine expansion.

Walkthrough[]

After agreeing to help both Liam and Matilda, they will give Wine Wars: Coronata and Wine Wars: Vermentino, respectively. While each one has five tasks, there's only one location at each you need to visit to start this one. Both locations are guarded treasures where you have to defeat two archespores (in each place) and then examine the bodies there (the order doesn't matter):

For Coronata, it is northeast of Coronata Vineyard and south of the Trading Post. On the body there you'll find orders on elegant stationery.
For Vermentino, it is northeast of the Sansretour valley signpost, and on the body you'll find a letter on elegant stationary and a heavy brass key.

In doing these, Geralt learns that someone is sabotaging both vineyards and to learn more can head to the Abandoned Storehouse far south, to the east of Tesham Mutna Ruins. Once there, enter the lower door (it can be confusing as the objective marker covers another door that's on a higher plane) and in the small room ahead an archespore will attack that has to be defeated. When done, you have to use your Witcher Senses to find the next clue, but this is where the path splits depending on circumstances.

If Belgaard already has a new owner[]

In the storehouse, examine the dead body to find a fragment of a letter. However, there's no incriminating evidence by this point to figure out who was really behind the sabotage and so it remains unsolved. In this case, the quest ends with no rewards.

If Belgaard's fate is still undecided[]

If neither of the Coronata or Vermentino quests have been completed, in a crate there you will find a stocktaking report, revealing that the Beast of Beauclair's first victim, Count Vladimir Crespi, was the mastermind behind the conspiracy. You'll also see seedlings here that can be examined, upon which Geralt will remark that he should destroy them. You can choose to do this with Igni and doing so awards 100. If you don't destroy them and later return after completing the quest, another archespore will have hatched and will attack.

It is then time to return to Liam and Matilda at the Toussaint Office of Internal Revenue near Plegmund's Bridge. Revealing the real saboteur, Liam and Matilda will bury the hatchet and gladly join forces to run Belgaard together. You will receive 250 here for solving the mystery and ending their feud. What happens next depends on what's been completed in the Wine Wars so far:

If all tasks for both vineyards have been done already: the second part of Wine Wars: Belgaard will start, and you will receive the rewards from both when you talk to them at Belgaard Manor.

If any task for either vineyard remains: Wine Wars: Consorting will start and you'll have to wait for both rewards until after that quest completes.

Journal entry[]

From the start, both Matilda and Liam insisted the problems at their vineyards had not appeared out of thin air. Naturally, they accused one another of foul play. Geralt suspected there was more to the matter, and yet again his intuition proved true. While solving the problems at the vineyards, he had happened on some notes. These suggested someone had intentionally planted archespores amidst the vines at both estates. The witcher had also found a key to the shelter where saplings of the beastly plants had been stored.

If Geralt didn't investigate until after starting the second part of Wine Wars: Belgaard:

The dugout was almost completely empty. At any rate, the witcher found nothing to help identify the individual behind the sabotage at Coronata and Vermentino. The mystery remained unsolved.

If Geralt completes the investigation before finishing Wine Wars: Belgaard:

Geralt searched the dugout and learned that the sabotage at Coronata and Vermentino had been the brainchild of Count Vladimir Crespi.

What Geralt had learned shed new light on the dispute Liam and Matilda. It seemed Count Crespi had intentionally incited the quarrel between them. They decided to do him one better - Liam and Matilda settled their differences and formed a consortium.

Objectives[]

Find the place mentioned in the letter.
Search the warehouse using your Witcher Senses.
Defeat the archespore.
Read the mysterious letter.
If Geralt investigated before the second part of Belgaard:
- If the seedlings are examined:
  - [Optional] Destroy the archespore seedlings. (100)
- Talk to Liam and Matilda. (250)