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.

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 Takeaways

Tim 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 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.

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, 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 Takeaways

Reality 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 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 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 Takeaways

Travel & 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 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 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 Takeaways

Cheese-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 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.