Cabernet Queens

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 TakeawaysMatt 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 HostsMatt 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

In this episode of Cabernet Queens, Matt and Deb are joined by Deb’s very good friend Tim for a hilarious, slightly chaotic catch-up over a mystery bottle of red. Tim braves his first glass of red wine in five years after a legendary lockdown mishap, while the trio reminisce about life in Lloyds Bank, emotional Kylie Minogue gigs, lockdown love stories, and some truly messy Christmas nights out. As always, the wine takes centre stage… until the conversation inevitably veers off into chip shops, vet tales, and arguments about who is Deb’s favourite gay.Key TakeawaysTim hasn’t touched red wine since a lockdown incident where “two glasses” turned into a tiled-bathroom disaster. Cabernet Queens becomes the setting for his cautious but comedic return to red.Deb and Tim share how they met working at Lloyds in Bloxwich (“Blocko”), bonding over customer-first service, legendary hissy fits, and chip-shop runs to SCOFFS. The branch felt more like a family than a workplace, complete with colourful characters and in-jokes.Tim is a fully signed-up Kylie super-fan, having seen her live over twenty times, including the emotional post-cancer “Homecoming” tour. Deb adds her own Glastonbury Kylie story featuring an overly enthusiastic (and very unwanted) fan behind her in the crowd.Tim reflects on how Covid changed his life trajectory, effectively fast-tracking moving in with his partner Dom the vet. Deb remembers sun-drenched lockdown afternoons with Tan, shorter branch hours, and Pimm’s on a picnic blanket – all while the banks and vets adapted to strange, distanced ways of working.Best Moments“If you’re gay and you don’t like Angela, you ain’t gay, that’s a hate crime.”“I thought, I’ll just have a little lie-down on the lovely tiled bathroom floor… woke up two days later.”“We used to have SCOFFS, I’d storm out: ‘I’m on my lunch, I’m going to SCOFFS!’… then stroll back in with chips and chilli sauce.”“I split training groups by Minogue: Team Kylie and Team Dannii. A grad thought Kylie Jenner had a brother. Sit back down, there’s another PowerPoint coming.”About the HostsMatt 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. 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

In this episode of the Cabernet Queens Podcast, hosts Matt Morgan, a travel specialist, and Deb Lee, a mortgage adviser, both unabashed wine lovers, unwrap a gifted mystery bottle, swap pet stories, and dive into the wild realities of TV auditions and a house-buying reality show twist. Key TakeawaysReality TV Whiplash: Matt’s “Honey, I Bought the House” story: five rounds of auditions for a fake show title before the big reveal, confiscated phones, £15,000 for a deposit, and being edited into a pantomime villain, trolls included. They still live in the house they chose.Pets & People: Between dog-friendly mini-breaks in Cheshire for Matt, and Deb’s duvet-snuggling cat Nova, the pair confirm what we all know: “Aren’t animals just the best?”Travel Realities: Matt talks customers affected by disruptions in Jamaica, balancing empathy for destinations needing tourism with clients’ concerns, proof that human service matters in choppy times.Game-Show Dreams: Deb’s The Chase Zoom audition didn’t pan out; they muse on Race Across the World, Come Dine with Me, and Gogglebox, with sober nods to how producers court drama.Key Moments“I’m going to say… Châteauneuf-du-Pape.” / “I’m going for a Malbec, Argentina.” (before the reveal)“We’re here to tell you that Max Blake doesn’t exist and there’s no show called Help Us Buy.” (how the reality show hooked them)“Cat. Cats own you. You don’t own a cat. They own you. They are the boss, believe me.” About the HostsMatt 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

In this episode of Cabernet Queen’s podcast, Deb and Matt settle in for a cosy, funny chat that ranges from Halloween love/hate and cult films to travel plans, TV game-show nerves, and a blind wine tasting that ends with a satisfying reveal.Key TakeawaysTravel & milestone celebrations: Matt’s just back from Crete, celebrating his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary (and his dad’s birthday), praising the hotel’s above-and-beyond service; Deb’s lining up a 60th year of treats: a Caribbean cruise, a bougie Crete weekend with lifelong friend Jane, and a private-pool junior suite.Pop culture & personal stories: Halloween sparks film chat. Hocus Pocus gets love; The Exorcist is a hard no, plus Strictly teasers for next time. Matt recounts auditioning for The Million Pound Drop and later appearing on The £100k Drop, including a sweet behind-the-scenes moment with Davina McCall when the set paused.Key Moments“I hate Halloween.”“You’ve got to watch Hocus Pocus.”“She was so genuinely lovely.” (on Davina McCall during a recording break)“I would score it an eight.” (Deb on the wine) / “I want to score it a six.” (Matt)About the HostsMatt 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

In this kitchen-table edition of Cabernet Queens, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee crack open a mystery red, tuck into a frankly heroic cheeseboard, and spiral (delightfully) into an ode to fish and chips. The mystery wine? Deb gives it a perfect 10; Matt’s right behind her and vows to buy it again.Key TakeawaysCheese-fuelled vibes: A lavish hamper from Arch13 (thanks to Deb and her friend Jane, after Matt organised their Crete getaway) powers the tasting.Scoring & drinkability: Deb lands on 10/10; Matt’s a firm fan and would happily stock up (ideally if it’s ever on offer).Chippy chat masterclass: From perfect batter and vinegar technique to orange chips, dips (gravy for dunking, never pouring), and local-shop loyalty, this episode doubles as a fish-and-chips manifesto.Life, diets & laughter: Keto confessions, “day two” diet dilemmas, and comfort-food honesty keep it real.Best Moments“I instantly feel better. This is my friend.” (on that first sip after a long week)“It’s one of the best ones we’ve had recently.” (pre-reveal hunch, later fully justified)“It tastes like… like feet but like really good feet.” (re: the glorious gooey cheese)“Can we one day have fish and chips together?” / “Absolutely.” (friendship sealed in salt and vinegar)About the HostsMatt 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

In this episode of Cabernet Queens, Matt Morgan and Deb Lee kick off with a blind red that screams oak and “old world” at first sniff, before meandering (hilariously) through all-inclusive holiday habits, stage-storming karaoke, and a couple of travel scrapes. There’s a spilled glass at Arch 13, a mimosa-at-sunrise tale from Mexico, and Deb’s fresh-from-Turkey debrief complete with parasailing and a music-quiz mic drop. Key TakeawaysHoliday Highlights (Turkey): Deb’s family trip packed in parasailing, a boat tour with snorkelling and caves, jet-skiing, and horse riding on the beach, with shout-outs to the lovely people and scenery.On-Stage ‘Dancing Queen’: A chaotic amphitheatre music quiz turns into Deb leading ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” on a big stage after bellowing the team name “Flip Flop.” Pure joy.All-Inclusive Confessions: From airport-time drinks to buffet mash-ups (spag bol with roast chicken and chips, anyone?), the pair compare notes on when the first glass is acceptable (mimosa with breakfast gets votes).Travel Tales: Cuba’s Havana detour ended in an overnight bus with dubious loos and shared rations; Vegas’ Bellagio bottomless brunch was… bottomless; Mexico saw Matt in bed by 10am after a mimosa cascade.Sun & Skin: Deb swears by Tropic sunscreen after returning burn- and peel-free from 35–36°C heat.Best Moments“Flip Flop! …ABBA, ‘Dancing Queen’!” (and then Deb takes the stage).“Drinkability… six. Depends how bad your day’s been.”“I was knocking on the restaurant door at 6am… very, very drunk by 10.”“Spaghetti Bolognese and roast chicken… with a few chips.” Buffet chaos, perfected.About the HostsMatt 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

In this episode of Cabernet Queens, Deb Lee and Matt Morgan catch up on hectic work weeks, open a cork-sealed mystery red, and dive into a blindfolded supermarket cheese challenge.Key TakeawaysLife updates: mortgage enquiries are flowing for Deb; Matt’s arranging tailormade trips (Thailand honeymoon, big Canada itinerary) and heading to Crete, while Deb’s off for an off-grid camper-van weekend near Chester.Deb’s cheese clean sweep (blindfolded!): Extra-creamy Brie, cottage cheese (firmly rejected), Asda Extra Special Cheddar, and Babybel—4/4 nailed.Food & nostalgia: feta dreams for Greece, learning to love green olives (not black), memories of French market feasts, plus a nod to Mick “the Cheese.”School PE horrors and communal showers (!), then comfort-TV chat: Friends, Fawlty Towers, Keeping Up Appearances.Best Moments“Cheese shouldn’t squeak at you. Mice squeak at you, but not cheese.”“As long as it’s not a zero percent… End of podcast.”“Hold out your…. I’ll put it in your mouth.”“This bottle contains no more than two servings.” About the HostsMatt 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

In this episode of Cabernet Queens, Deb Lee and Matt Morgan are joined by superfan Matt Black for a second back-to-back recording at Chung Ying in Birmingham, complete with a mystery bottle gifted by listener Nigel.Key TakeawaysMeet Matt Black, self-proclaimed “number one fan”, who listens on long drives and pitches for longer episodes (maybe an omnibus one day…).Guessing game chaos: first impressions of a lighter style lead to wildly different calls - Pinot Noir, Chianti and even an “Australian Shiraz”.Travel tales turn cautionary: Matt B recalls a bag-snatch saga in Ibiza (and a doomed flip-flop chase), while Deb shares a near-miss with scooter thieves in Cambodia.Spotlight on the arts: kudos to Matt’s wife, Kath, for a standout performance in a local stage production—proper scene-stealing stuff.Best Moments“I think this is an Australian Chianti.”“One’s a podcast and the other is a cod past.”“There’s no winners in this game, just the one loser.”“It’s where great wine meets even better stories.”About Matt BlackRaised in sunny Shrewsbury, he moved to the Black Country in 1999, living in Cannock and now Walsall. Married, divorced and remarried, he has four children, making family life busy and joyful. Matt is a charity trustee and seasoned sales professional.About the HostsMatt 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

In this episode of Cabernet Queens, Deb Lee and Matt Morgan are joined by special guest Mick "The Cheese" from Queso, a Midlands-based artisan cheesemonger, for a luxurious wine and cheese tasting upstairs at Chung Ying restaurant in Birmingham. Key TakeawaysMick brings serious cheese knowledge (and snacks). From a triple cream French cheese to award-winning pitchfork cheddar and a surprisingly mellow blue goat’s cheese, Mick’s selections wow both Matt and Deb.Mick explains why artisan cheese tastes better: freshness, hand-cut curds, raw milk, and care versus mass-produced block cheddar sealed in plastic.Artisan cheese fans across the UK can order via queso.uk with next-day chilled delivery—perfect for Christmas or just a Tuesday night in.Best Moments“I wish she’d just told me she’d slept with another man… she likes cranberry cheese!”“Have you tried the cheddar? It’s better than Cathedral City!”“It's called Cabernet Queens, not Cheese Queens. Maybe we should do a spin-off.”About QuesoOwned by cheese enthusiast Mick James, ¡Queso! is run by Mick, Adam Bannister, and Michelle James. With a rotating selection of over 60 artisan cheeses, all are chosen for flavour, quality, and seasonality. They only stock cheeses they personally love, no mass production, no additives (except for a touch of truffle), and no supermarket staples. Most are unpasteurised and sourced from cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo milk, crafted by small, independent producers. Find out more: https://queso.uk/About the HostsMatt 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/