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.