In this episode of Cabernet Queens, Matt Morgan visits Deb Lee's freshly renovated kitchen for a full house tour, a mystery bottle that nearly gets a record low score, and a catch up before Deb jets off to Crete for a milestone birthday trip with her oldest friend.

It is a classic Cabernet Queens episode - equal parts wine chat, home envy and easy conversation, with a Nigella-worthy pantry stealing the show.

Key Takeaways

Deb's new kitchen renovation has been a long time coming.

Started at the end of March, the build took longer than planned but the result includes a walk in pantry, hidden cutlery drawer and full induction hob setup.

The mystery wine split opinion - badly.

Both Matt and Deb found it surprisingly light and a touch bitter, with Matt going as far as calling it the worst wine on the show besides the alcohol free episode.

Adding sugar genuinely improved the wine.

Inspired by a TikTok tip, Matt stirred sugar into his glass and found it noticeably better, though Deb stuck with her unsweetened glass throughout.

Old, forgotten bottles rarely age well.

Stories of wasted wine from family stashes, including a decades old bottle of champagne from the Ritz, reinforced that most everyday wine is best drunk sooner rather than later.

Deb is off to Crete for her 60th birthday trip.

She is heading away with her oldest friend Jane for four nights, including a Vegas-themed party for Matt's 10th wedding anniversary to look forward to on her return.

Key Moments

"That is the worst one we've ever had on the show, besides the alcohol free."

"I can't believe you're drinking red wine with a teaspoon of sugar in it."

"We can't have wine in the house, it's like having chocolate in the cupboard."

"It's wicked for hide and seek." - Matt, on the new pantry

About Cabernet Queens

Cabernet Queens is the podcast where great wine meets even better stories. Each episode, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee uncork a mystery bottle, share travel tales and take listeners along for the ride.

Part wine show, part travel podcast, part catch-up between two brilliant friends - grab a glass and drink along.

How to Get in Touch

Follow Cabernet Queens and join the conversation:

Instagram: @cabernetqueens

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe, leave a review and share it with your fellow wine and travel enthusiasts.

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

In this episode of Cabernet Queens, Matt Morgan and Deb Lee are joined once again by returning guest Andrew Downing-Booth - local estate agent, self-confessed non-wine-drinker and provider of this episode's mystery bottle.

Recorded live at Chung Ying in Birmingham with dinner waiting downstairs, episode 31 covers the unexpected hazards of the estate agency trade, the etiquette of double-barrelled surnames and a mystery bottle that turned out to be considerably better than anyone expected. Andrew also brings a story about a loft, some unexplained items and an uncle who may or may not have some explaining to do.

Key Takeaways

Estate agency is a job built on highs, lows and managing expectations.

Overvaluing a property to win the listing is one of the industry's worst habits - sellers get locked in, prices drop and nobody wins. Andrew's approach is no tie-in contracts and honest valuations from the start.

Fall-throughs are the worst part of the job - for everyone involved.

When a sale collapses, it hurts the agent just as much as the client. The phone call to deliver that news is genuinely one of the hardest things about the role.

There are sex toys in a loft in Lichfield and nobody is claiming them.

Current tenants found them during a contractor visit, confirmed they are not theirs, and want it on record. Andrew has volunteered to retrieve them before the property goes back to market. His uncle may be getting an interesting call.

Double-barrelled names come with built-in assumptions.

Andrew's name comes from his grandmother's farming family keeping the Downing name alive through marriage. He acknowledges prejudice exists. Jacob Rees-Mogg was used as the prime example of why.

Key Moments

"They're not ours. Just for the record. When we move out, they are not ours."

"You can tell people whatever they want to hear for 36 weeks and then just keep dropping the price."

"You make an assumption from the name, then how he speaks, and you just think - prick."

About Cabernet Queens

Cabernet Queens is the podcast where great wine meets even better stories. Each episode, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee uncork a mystery bottle, share travel tales and take listeners along for the ride.

Part wine show, part travel podcast, part catch-up between two brilliant friends - grab a glass and drink along.

How to Get in Touch

Follow Cabernet Queens and join the conversation:

Instagram: @cabernetqueens

Guest this episode: Andrew Downing-Booth - Estate Agent, Lichfield

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe, leave a review and share it with your fellow wine and travel enthusiasts.

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

In this episode of Cabernet Queens, Matt Morgan and Deb Lee ditch the home setup and record live from Chung Ying in Birmingham - prawn crackers in hand, mystery bottle poured and dinner to follow.

Episode 30 is a proper celebration episode. The pair catch up on lodge holidays, surprise birthday weekends, dog dramas and a mystery bottle that neither of them saw coming. There is also a moment of genuine podcast pride as Matt reveals they are now being listened to in 58 countries - which neither of them can quite explain.

Key Takeaways

Getting out of the house changes the energy.

Recording at Chung Ying gave episode 30 a relaxed, occasion feel - wine, dipping sauces, prawn crackers and a meal waiting. Sometimes the best episodes happen when you just go somewhere.

Cabernet Queens is now listened to in 58 countries.

The top 10 includes the UK, US, France, Vietnam, Spain, Australia, UAE, Hong Kong, Ireland and Germany. Matt suspects Brazil found them by accident. They love it either way.

Deb's birthday surprise weekend involves an island and 17 people.

The whole family is in on it except Deb. There is a £700 Tesco shop being delivered to the mystery location. She is just getting in the car and falling asleep.

Getting the wine wrong is still getting it right.

The whole point of Cabernet Queens is the journey, not the result. Being miles off on the grape, country and price does not matter when the bottle is empty and the company is good.

Key Moments

"We're listened to in 58 countries. I think Brazil might have been looking for Carnival Queen."

"I was walking to the toilet with her paws on my shoulder, sidestepping like a crab."

"If it's free, I'll drink it again."

"I'll just get in the car and fall asleep. You know me so well."

About Cabernet Queens

Cabernet Queens is the podcast where great wine meets even better stories. Each episode, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee uncork a mystery bottle, share travel tales and take listeners along for the ride.

Part wine show, part travel podcast, part catch-up between two brilliant friends - grab a glass and drink along.

How to Get in Touch

Follow Cabernet Queens and join the conversation:

Instagram: @cabernetqueens

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe, leave a review and share it with your fellow wine and travel enthusiasts.

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