In this episode of the Cabernet Queens Podcast, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee celebrate the clocks going forward and the first proper taste of spring, lighter mornings, longer evenings, and that “wine in the garden” feeling on the way. With cheese on the go and the trusty wine aerator gadget back in action, they tackle a richer, more complex mystery red that has them guessing everything from Napa to Rioja. The chat then takes a spooky turn as Deb recounts an overnight charity stay in an abandoned prison, pitch-black corridors, ghost stories, Ouija boards, and a tarot reading (plus a “mate” jumping out to scare her).

Key Takeaways

Spring energy = better moods (and better wine moments)

Matt and Deb agree the longer days lift your mood instantly, more daylight for dog walks, dinner, and that perfect early-evening glass of red.

The wine gadget is officially part of the show

The aerator/dispenser makes another appearance, with both of them convinced it genuinely improves the taste (decanter vibes, but faster).

Easter food chat: lamb debates and chocolate confessions

Deb is firmly “lamb for Easter” (with mint sauce), while Matt’s household leans away from lamb and into alternatives. They also get nostalgic about Easter eggs, mugs, and why a block of chocolate beats an overpriced egg.

Deb’s overnight prison stay: spooky setting, zero actual ghosts

Deb shares a charity overnight in an abandoned prison (locked in from 8pm–8am): dark tours, hanging stories, wandering corridors with torches, Ouija board attempts in different locations, and a jump-scare from a friend. Despite the atmosphere (and grim history), nobody experiences anything supernatural.

Tarot reading: fun, but “generic”

They discuss tarot/mediums and the idea there’s a “science” to reading people, entertaining, but not convincing enough to change their scepticism.

They toast to a full year of episodes, and reflect that the whole point is making listeners feel like they’re simply having a glass of wine with friends.

Key Moments

“It’s becoming a bit spring-like… it just boosts your mood.”

“Who needs to actually pour a bottle anymore?”

“We had a ball [during lockdown].”

“You were locked in the prison from 8pm till 8am.”

“I’d always said I would never touch a Ouija board…”

About the Hosts

Matt Morgan is a passionate travel specialist committed to turning your dream holidays into reality. Offering expert, impartial advice and 24/7 support, Matt ensures every step of your journey is stress-free. From crafting itineraries across all continents to arranging weddings, honeymoons, cruises, and city breaks, he handles every detail, including visas and check-ins. With strong industry relationships and ATOL protection, Matt delivers personalised, worry-free travel experiences tailored to your needs.

Find out more: https://luxurytravelexperts.co.uk/

Deb Lee is the owner of Aldridge Mortgage & Protection, a family-run business focused on helping clients achieve their property goals. From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, Deb offers tailored advice on purchasing, refinancing, and borrowing. Based in the West Midlands but serving clients nationwide, she provides flexible support through remote or face-to-face consultations. With a client-first approach and a passion for making the mortgage process simple and stress-free, Deb ensures her clients' property dreams become reality.

Find out more: https://aldridgemp.co.uk/

See the wine they drink and keep up to date with their adventures: https://www.instagram.com/cabernetqueens/

Get in touch with Cabernet Queens with any questions: cabernetqueens@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Cabernet Queens Podcast, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee reunite after a little break, crack open a very drinkable mystery red (with the beloved aerator gadget making a return), and introduce a new “wine-saver” stopper designed to keep open bottles fresh, not that either of them ever needs it. Deb then shares a brilliant birthday surprise: The Traitors Live Experience in Covent Garden, where she ends up as a Traitor (despite Tan saying she didn’t want to be one), gets dramatically banished by Tan herself, and revels in the big reveal.

Key Takeaways

Gadgets are now a core character in the show

The aerator/dispenser is back (and still adored), plus Matt unveils a vacuum wine-stopper that removes air to stop wine from going off, which was quickly agreed to be a pointless but satisfying gadget for two people who rarely leave wine unfinished.

Deb’s Valentine’s tasting menu was next-level (and AI-assisted)

Deb talks through a boxed, seven-course tasting menu at home (including scallops and Beef Wellington), using AI to enlarge the instructions and even generate wine pairings for each course, complete with a Barolo for the Wellington.

Nando’s: loved… but not cheap

Matt treats himself (and Lydia) to Nando’s for Valentine’s, then realises how quickly the bill adds up. The chat spirals into sides, spice levels, and Deb’s genuinely traumatic “corn on the cob dislocated jaw” story.

The Traitors Live Experience is hilariously immersive

Deb and Tan head to Covent Garden for the live game: lanyards, round tables, “Claudia” hosting, blindfolds, missions to build the prize pot, secret Traitor selection… and proper banishments. Deb becomes a Traitor, struggles to follow some of it (part-sighted + a few drinks), then gets voted out by Tan, and loves announcing it.

A clever twist: couples can secretly pretend they don’t know each other

They realise you can book as individuals and play it like the show, including a pair of Americans who came separately and convinced everyone they were mother and son. It sparks ideas for Matt/Deb to go back and pretend to be two couples.

Key Moments

“This is Deb’s favourite gadget… which we absolutely love.”

“I put it into AI… and then I said… give me wine pairings for this menu.”

“I dislocated my jaw trying to eat [Nando’s] corn on the cob.”

“I felt the hand on my shoulder… I was a traitor.”

“I’m a traitor… I was so glad I was a traitor.”

About the Hosts

Matt Morgan is a passionate travel specialist committed to turning your dream holidays into reality. Offering expert, impartial advice and 24/7 support, Matt ensures every step of your journey is stress-free. From crafting itineraries across all continents to arranging weddings, honeymoons, cruises, and city breaks, he handles every detail, including visas and check-ins. With strong industry relationships and ATOL protection, Matt delivers personalised, worry-free travel experiences tailored to your needs.

Find out more: https://luxurytravelexperts.co.uk/

Deb Lee is the owner of Aldridge Mortgage & Protection, a family-run business focused on helping clients achieve their property goals. From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, Deb offers tailored advice on purchasing, refinancing, and borrowing. Based in the West Midlands but serving clients nationwide, she provides flexible support through remote or face-to-face consultations. With a client-first approach and a passion for making the mortgage process simple and stress-free, Deb ensures her clients' property dreams become reality.

Find out more: https://aldridgemp.co.uk/

See the wine they drink and keep up to date with their adventures: https://www.instagram.com/cabernetqueens/

Get in touch with Cabernet Queens with any questions: cabernetqueens@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Cabernet Queens Podcast, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee catch up on the January/February work rush, share their love of lists (and why being busy makes you more disciplined), and then dive into a new gadget that almost floods the table: an electric wine aerator and dispenser. From there, the chat meanders delightfully through weekend cooking shows, “food heaven vs food hell”, curry cravings, Beef Wellington tips (including a genius pancake trick), and a quick holiday hat question about all-inclusive cocktail habits, before they finally lock in their guesses and reveal a surprise bargain bottle from Aldi.

Key Takeaways

Matt explains why January and February are peak holiday-booking months, while Deb shares how satisfying it is to help clients who think a mortgage is out of reach. Both agree: the busier you are, the more organised you become.

A new electric aerator/dispenser turns pouring into a comedy moment, rapid flow, fizzy-looking wine, and a very nearly disastrous spill. Once mastered, they’re obsessed and start talking about it like it’s wine “on tap”.

Deb’s food hell includes aubergine and corned beef, while Matt can’t stand eggs and has childhood trauma from jellied eels. Food heaven? Deb goes straight to a great curry; Matt’s is a classic Beef Wellington.

Matt shares PJ’s method for avoiding a soggy bottom: wrap the Wellington in pancakes before the pastry to soak up moisture. Deb’s mind is blown, and she immediately wants to try it.

Deb says she’d try loads of cocktails on an all-inclusive menu; Matt avoids mixing because it writes him off too quickly, though he’d happily mix wines by the glass.

Key Moments

“That is an electric wine aerator and dispenser.”

“It’s the height of laziness then.”

“Food hell… aubergine.”

“The way to get around it… he wraps it in pancakes.”

“You’re at an all-inclusive bar… try everything on the cocktail menu?”

About the Hosts

Matt Morgan is a passionate travel specialist committed to turning your dream holidays into reality. Offering expert, impartial advice and 24/7 support, Matt ensures every step of your journey is stress-free. From crafting itineraries across all continents to arranging weddings, honeymoons, cruises, and city breaks, he handles every detail, including visas and check-ins. With strong industry relationships and ATOL protection, Matt delivers personalised, worry-free travel experiences tailored to your needs.

Find out more: https://luxurytravelexperts.co.uk/

Deb Lee is the owner of Aldridge Mortgage & Protection, a family-run business focused on helping clients achieve their property goals. From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, Deb offers tailored advice on purchasing, refinancing, and borrowing. Based in the West Midlands but serving clients nationwide, she provides flexible support through remote or face-to-face consultations. With a client-first approach and a passion for making the mortgage process simple and stress-free, Deb ensures her clients' property dreams become reality.

Find out more: https://aldridgemp.co.uk/

See the wine they drink and keep up to date with their adventures: https://www.instagram.com/cabernetqueens/

Get in touch with Cabernet Queens with any questions: cabernetqueens@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 22 of the Cabernet Queens Podcast, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee crack open a mystery red sent in by friends (complete with a personalised label), while Deb finally shares the full story of her “big birthday” Caribbean cruise. Between cheeky banter about turning 60, weekend-only drinking rules, and cheese-on-boob incidents, the episode swings from hilarious holiday chaos (nearly missing the ship!) to surprisingly thoughtful moments about ethical wildlife tourism, all wrapped up with a satisfying wine reveal.

Key Takeaways

Deb recounts her milestone birthday trip: a cruise out of Florida with a group of 11, loaded with laughs, cocktails, and standout experiences, including an unforgettable birthday meal in a speciality restaurant and top-tier service throughout.

From friends heading to the wrong port (Miami instead of Fort Lauderdale) to “first-night smashed” jet lag + cocktails, the trip proves that the best stories usually come from the near-misses.

Deb contrasts a respectful dolphin/snorkelling tour in Key West (no touching, no disturbing animals, protecting coral) with a more commercialised trip involving stingrays/starfish that left her frustrated by how tourists were encouraged to handle wildlife.

Deb shares emotional highlights from her birthday: a personalised song from Tan (tailored to their life story) and thoughtful gifts from family, reinforcing the show’s recurring theme that travel + love + memories beat “stuff.”

Key Moments

“Speaking of birthday, how does it feel to be 60?”

“We flew into Miami… and we were sailing from Fort Lauderdale.”

“It was a really good… sustainable tour… don’t touch anything… don’t damage the coral.”

“I ran up there like I got a rocket up my ass… and he asked me to leave the stage.”

About the Hosts

Matt Morgan is a passionate travel specialist committed to turning your dream holidays into reality. Offering expert, impartial advice and 24/7 support, Matt ensures every step of your journey is stress-free. From crafting itineraries across all continents to arranging weddings, honeymoons, cruises, and city breaks, he handles every detail, including visas and check-ins. With strong industry relationships and ATOL protection, Matt delivers personalised, worry-free travel experiences tailored to your needs.

Find out more: https://luxurytravelexperts.co.uk/

Deb Lee is the owner of Aldridge Mortgage & Protection, a family-run business focused on helping clients achieve their property goals. From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, Deb offers tailored advice on purchasing, refinancing, and borrowing. Based in the West Midlands but serving clients nationwide, she provides flexible support through remote or face-to-face consultations. With a client-first approach and a passion for making the mortgage process simple and stress-free, Deb ensures her clients' property dreams become reality.

Find out more: https://aldridgemp.co.uk/

See the wine they drink and keep up to date with their adventures: https://www.instagram.com/cabernetqueens/

Get in touch with Cabernet Queens with any questions: cabernetqueens@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Cabernet Queens, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee catch up at the end of a long, five-week January, talking New Year’s resolutions, diets, birthdays and big holiday plans, all over a mystery bottle of red. As they sip and speculate about blends, grapes and countries, they also pull questions from the Holiday Hat, sharing hilarious (and occasionally mortifying) stories about drunken photos, balcony drinks, sneaky kisses and late-night skinny dipping on holiday.

Key Takeaways

Matt and Deb talk honestly about how tough January can be – long, busy and a bit gloomy, and why traditional New Year’s resolutions rarely stick. Deb refuses to make them anymore after too many “epic fails”, preferring to focus on learning from mistakes and just trying to be a slightly better person than last year.

Matt shares how he’s lost a stone on keto ahead of a huge 10-year anniversary trip, New York, Fort Lauderdale, a Celebrity cruise penthouse and Nashville. He talks about the reality of craving bread, potatoes and carbs, being sick of meat, and still refusing to give up red wine. Deb agrees keto works, but laughs at the impossibility of doing it over Christmas.

A Holiday Hat question about camera rolls leads Matt to confess to some truly horrific drunk photos – naked window dancing in Vegas and floor-scrabbling room-service shots on a Virgin Voyages cruise. They also admit they’re terrible at “saving” nice bottles for later, regularly demolishing special wines they’d intended to keep for Christmas or a future occasion.

Both agree balcony drinks are one of the best bits of any holiday, watching the sunset with a glass of wine, playing cards, dominoes or even travel chess, and drifting from deep life conversations into silly tangents. It’s the perfect “in-between” time, either before heading out or winding down after a night out.

Deb shares the story of her first kiss with Tan, a late-night snog in front of the Punch and Judy on Weymouth beach, complete with a heckling dog-walker and a 4:08am return to the caravan that became a running joke and the start of her longest relationship. Talk then turns to skinny dipping in Mexico, Portugal, Jamaica and various pools, liberating, fun and definitely fuelled by a few drinks.

Best Moments

“I massively underestimated how much having a wine at the end of the day means to me… I missed it, Deb. I missed it.”

“I don’t make New Year’s resolutions because I don’t like the thought that by the end of January I’ve failed miserably.”

“Balcony drinks are a must, you start with a quiet glass and suddenly it’s 10 o’clock and you’ve completely missed dinner.”

About the Hosts

Matt Morgan is a passionate travel specialist committed to turning your dream holidays into reality. Offering expert, impartial advice and 24/7 support, Matt ensures every step of your journey is stress-free. From crafting itineraries across all continents to arranging weddings, honeymoons, cruises, and city breaks, he handles every detail, including visas and check-ins. With strong industry relationships and ATOL protection, Matt delivers personalised, worry-free travel experiences tailored to your needs.

Find out more: https://luxurytravelexperts.co.uk/

Deb Lee is the owner of Aldridge Mortgage & Protection, a family-run business focused on helping clients achieve their property goals. From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, Deb offers tailored advice on purchasing, refinancing, and borrowing. Based in the West Midlands but serving clients nationwide, she provides flexible support through remote or face-to-face consultations. With a client-first approach and a passion for making the mortgage process simple and stress-free, Deb ensures her clients' property dreams become reality.

Find out more: https://aldridgemp.co.uk/

See the wine they drink and keep up to date with their adventures: https://www.instagram.com/cabernetqueens/

Get in touch with Cabernet Queens with any questions: cabernetqueens@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Cabernet Queens, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee ring in 2026 with a special birthday celebration and a very fancy-looking bottle of red. Deb is joined by her lifelong best friend Jane, whom she’s known since the age of four, and returning favourite Tim, as they toast turning 60, talk about friendship through every decade of life, and attempt (with varying confidence) to guess what’s in their mystery bottle.

Key Takeaways

Deb and Jane share the story of how they met at four years old when Deb volunteered to “look after” the new girl at school, forming a bond that has lasted nearly six decades. Their memories of schooldays, teachers and growing up in the Black Country show how deep, long-term friendships shape who you become.

Both Deb and Jane are turning 60 this year, and rather than dreading it, they celebrate feeling more comfortable in their own skin than ever. They talk about each decade bringing something brilliant, from wild twenties to family-filled thirties and chilled-out fifties, and challenge the idea of living in the past instead of enjoying the here and now.

As ever, the group swirl, sniff and sip their way through the glass, commenting on the wine’s smoothness and seeking out “legs” on the side of the glass. The guessing game covers grape, country, price and percentage.

The conversation moves into music and streaming stats: Jane’s love of Elvis and Dolly Parton, Deb discovering newer artists like Lola Young while still blasting Oasis, and Tim’s long-standing Kylie Minogue super-fandom (top listener stats firmly intact). They compare Spotify “listening ages”, laugh about having an 89-year-old musical profile, and agree that festivals should always deliver the big hits for the crowd.

Tim reflects on how hard dating used to feel, joking that he once assumed he’d “die alone” before meeting his husband, Dom. He describes their first date as feeling like gossiping with a best friend you also fancy, and how that ease highlighted why previous relationships had never quite worked.

Best Moments

“I don’t know anyone else my age who’s still got their best friend from four.”

“Every decade’s been brilliant for one reason or another, why would I want to live in the past?”

“We went back to Graceland and I actually held Elvis Presley’s ring from the open coffin, full VIP treatment this time.”

“Dating was hard because everybody was a dickhead… then I met Dom and it just felt like chatting to my best mate that I also fancied.”

About the Hosts

Matt Morgan is a passionate travel specialist committed to turning your dream holidays into reality. Offering expert, impartial advice and 24/7 support, Matt ensures every step of your journey is stress-free. From crafting itineraries across all continents to arranging weddings, honeymoons, cruises, and city breaks, he handles every detail, including visas and check-ins. With strong industry relationships and ATOL protection, Matt delivers personalised, worry-free travel experiences tailored to your needs.

Find out more: https://luxurytravelexperts.co.uk/

Deb Lee is the owner of Aldridge Mortgage & Protection, a family-run business focused on helping clients achieve their property goals. From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, Deb offers tailored advice on purchasing, refinancing, and borrowing. Based in the West Midlands but serving clients nationwide, she provides flexible support through remote or face-to-face consultations. With a client-first approach and a passion for making the mortgage process simple and stress-free, Deb ensures her clients' property dreams become reality.

Find out more: https://aldridgemp.co.uk/

See the wine they drink and keep up to date with their adventures: https://www.instagram.com/cabernetqueens/

Get in touch with Cabernet Queens with any questions: cabernetqueens@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this festive episode of the Cabernet Queens Podcast, hosts Matt Morgan, a travel specialist, and Deb Lee, a mortgage adviser, lean fully into their love of Christmas – from “Christmas milk” Baileys and Bucks Fizz breakfasts, to self-employed Christmas parties for two, chaotic shared office dos, and the fine art of Secret Santa. Alongside plenty of laughter (and mild chaos), they savour a deep, spicy mystery red and swap stories about cheese, port, and why time together beats presents every year.

Key Takeaways

Matt and Deb agree the build-up is the best bit, Christmas films, games, rubbish food, and guilt-free drinking at any hour. Baileys is rebranded “Christmas milk”, Bucks Fizz is mandatory at breakfast, and even the parents are on board with morning tipples.

Deb and her fellow director Tan are marking Christmas with a “party for two”. Lunch at Pasture on Christmas Eve doubling as their AGM, followed by an open-house evening at home. Matt’s got networking, a “respectable” lunch that will inevitably slide, and classic office cocktails with colleagues lined up.

Both have reached the stage where swapping £££ presents feels pointless. Instead, they choose meals out, day trips, and overnight stays with parents, because the most precious gift is time together, not another bottle of Baileys and a box of chocolates.

From the impossible £10 work budget to family draws, Secret Santa can go very right or very wrong. A notorious gimp outfit gift did not land well, but a lemon tree christened “Lily” was a huge win.

Best Moments

“He calls it Christmas milk. There’s always a bottle of Christmas milk in the fridge in December.”

“When you’ve got a decent standard of living, you don’t really go without… the most important thing, the most precious thing you can give is your time.”

“If I feel like dancing and nobody else does, I’ll dance. Dance like nobody’s watching.”

“Have you ever done it when you get a whole Stilton, scoop the middle out and pour port in?”

About the Hosts

Matt Morgan is a passionate travel specialist committed to turning your dream holidays into reality. Offering expert, impartial advice and 24/7 support, Matt ensures every step of your journey is stress-free. From crafting itineraries across all continents to arranging weddings, honeymoons, cruises, and city breaks, he handles every detail, including visas and check-ins. With strong industry relationships and ATOL protection, Matt delivers personalised, worry-free travel experiences tailored to your needs.

Find out more: https://luxurytravelexperts.co.uk/

Deb Lee is the owner of Aldridge Mortgage & Protection, a family-run business focused on helping clients achieve their property goals. From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, Deb offers tailored advice on purchasing, refinancing, and borrowing. Based in the West Midlands but serving clients nationwide, she provides flexible support through remote or face-to-face consultations. With a client-first approach and a passion for making the mortgage process simple and stress-free, Deb ensures her clients' property dreams become reality.

Find out more: https://aldridgemp.co.uk/

See the wine they drink and keep up to date with their adventures: https://www.instagram.com/cabernetqueens/

Get in touch with Cabernet Queens with any questions: cabernetqueens@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.