In this episode of Cabernet Queens, hosts Matt Morgan and Deb Lee return to Birmingham’s beloved wine bar, Arch 13, for another round of laughter, learning, and luscious sips. They're joined once again by Chris Connolly, owner and seasoned wine expert, who shares the fascinating history of Connolly’s, demystifies oak ageing, explains the science behind wine glasses, and gives his take on the trendy “orange wine”. All this, while the trio taste one of their most exceptional wines to date.

Key Takeaways

A Birmingham Staple: Arch 13 is more than a wine bar—it’s part of a family legacy stretching back to 1880, with deep roots in the Midlands and a modern, atmospheric space perfect for wine discovery.

From £1,000 French barrels to oak chips, Chris explains how oak ageing works, what it contributes to flavour and structure, and why winemakers often blend different ages of barrels.

Does the Glass Matter? Absolutely. Wine glass shape can change how a wine hits your palate, balancing acidity and enhancing aroma—something Austrian glassmaker Riedel has perfected.

Orange Wine Explained: Not a fad, but a traditional method of making white wine like red—fermented on skins for tannins and colour. Chris shares how it creates unique mouthfeel and food pairing opportunities.

Best Moments

“Wine glasses aren’t just for drama, they guide the wine to the right part of your mouth.” – Chris

“I like a glass that can hold a whole bottle of wine.” – Matt

“Mother’s being posh again—get the decanter out.” – Deb, quoting her son Tom

About Arch 13

Arch 13 at Connolly’s is a wine bar and retail experience showcasing unique wines, British cheese and meats and a range of small plates. Connolly’s is a family owned and run business with a heritage that dates back to the late 1800’s.

Find out more: https://arch13bar.co.uk/

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 return for another round of red wine tasting and candid conversation. The duo sample a mystery bottle while reflecting on memorable travel experiences and culinary escapades. From Matt’s handmade Vietnamese spring rolls to Deb’s attempt at recreating pho at home, the episode highlights the joy and occasional chaos of bringing holiday tastes back to the UK.

Key Takeaways

Wine Talk and Scoring: Matt and Deb taste a mystery red wine, initially underwhelmed by the aroma but pleasantly surprised as the episode progresses. The wine's drinkability improves over time, leading to a significantly higher final score.

Travel-Inspired Cooking Fails and Wins: Matt shares his experience making Vietnamese spring rolls at home after a cooking class in Vietnam, while Deb recalls a less successful attempt at making pho using beef bones, which resulted in a lingering odour that haunted the house.

Adventure and Personal Growth: The hosts reflect on how travel and adventure – whether trekking the Inca Trail or launching a business, often require courage and ignoring self-doubt. They discuss imposter syndrome and the power of naming the voice in your head that holds you back.

Wine-Inspired Creativity: Deb and Matt brainstorm wine names based on their travels, including "Cancun Cabernet" and "Mexican Malbec", linking their love for wine and adventure.

Best Moments

“It's not knocking my socks off, I wonder if it's a lower alcohol content?”

“I thought, this is the easiest thing ever. Why don’t I eat these spring rolls every day of my life?”

“It smelt like we’d cooked dead people in the house. Just bones… for days!”

“Adventure takes many forms. Starting a business is an adventure.”

“I’m going to start a spreadsheet so we can rank our all-time favourites.”

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 step out of Deb’s kitchen and into Birmingham wine bar, Arch 13. Joined by Chris Connolly, owner and wine expert, they dive into a guided wine tasting, learning to sip, swirl, and (try not to) spill. From Matt’s wine-induced contortions to Deb’s newfound appreciation for Malbec, this episode is packed with laughs, learning, and a lot of tannins.

Key Takeaways

Tasting Like a Pro: Chris walks Matt and Deb through the basics of proper wine tasting—swirling, sniffing, and sipping—emphasising balance, acidity, and drinkability over fancy jargon.

Wine Without Snobbery: The trio explores how great wine doesn’t need a high price tag or intimidating language. The focus is on whether you enjoy it, not if you can identify notes of ‘wheelbarrow fruit’.

From Guesswork to Guidance: Deb and Matt usually rely on wild guesses and supermarket offers, but with Chris’s expertise, they learn to identify grape varieties and characteristics with new confidence.

Wine Bar Wisdom: Chris introduces them to three reds, an Australian Grenache-Mataro blend, an Argentinian Malbec, and an Australian Aglianico, highlighting differences in aroma, mouthfeel, and finish.

Best Moments

"Let’s be honest, whatever Chris gives us, the glasses will be empty by the end." – Matt

“You can’t taste properly if you just neck it.” – Chris

“This one tastes like it would go with roast dinner… maybe even cauliflower.” – Deb

About Arch 13

Arch 13 at Connolly’s is a wine bar and retail experience showcasing unique wines, British cheese and meats and a range of small plates. Connolly’s is a family owned and run business with a heritage that dates back to the late 1800’s.

Find out more: https://arch13bar.co.uk/

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.