Welcome to Meeples & Wine, the podcast of board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand! I’m Michael and I’m joined by Suzy. Today we are balancing our pallets and our game boards with a “harmonious” pairing.

We aren’t overthinking it today! Our pick is the Bread & Butter California Red Blend, a classic everyday red that’s all about relaxed vibes.

• The Vibe: An affordable crowd-pleaser, usually found for $14–$17 per bottle.
• Style: A plush, velvety, medium-to-full-bodied blend often heavy on Cab and Petite Sirah.
• Tasting Notes: We’re getting juicy black plum, dark cherry, and blackberry with smooth layers of chocolate, vanilla, and caramel.
• Stats: It holds a steady 3.9/5 on Vivino as of 2026.
• Pairing Tip: Perfect for burgers, pizza, or a cozy movie night.
• Check it out here: Bread & Butter Wines

This week we’re hitting the fields with Beer & Bread, a multi-use card game designed for exactly two players.

You represent rival villages sharing a monastery’s fruitful lands. Over six years (alternating between “fruitful” and “dry”), you’ll harvest resources, brew beer, bake bread, and upgrade your facilities.

Balance is key! At the end of the sixth year, you only score the coins from the category (beer or bread) where you earned the least. If you go all-in on beer and ignore your bread, you’re going to have a bad time.

• Designer: Scott Almes (The Tiny Epic guy!)
• Artist: Michael Menzel (Catan, Dominion)
• Publisher: Deep Print Games
• Complexity: 2.36/5 on BGG
• Links: BGG Game Page | Our Tiny Epic Dungeons Episode

• Michael’s Fun Score: 8/10 22
• Suzy’s Fun Score: 9.5/10 23
• Couch Score: 2/5 (Won’t wreck your relationship!)

• Kickstarter Spotlight: We’re keeping an eye on Grassfed: A Farm to Tabletop Game from the Ascension team. Check it out on Gamefound.
• MGC 2026: We will be at the Midwest Gaming Classic again this year (April 25–27)!

What everyday reds are you reaching for this winter? We’d love to hear from you! 27

• Email: meeplesandwine@gmail.com
• Socials: Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn
• Voicemail: (707) 572-5282

See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

Welcome back to Meeples & Wine! It’s Michael and Suzy here, bringing you another board game review for couples—always with a drink in hand.

In this episode, we are diving into a portable RPG adventure and sipping on a wine that pairs perfectly with a backyard cookout. Let’s get into the notes!

Today’s bottle comes from 14 Hands Winery, located in the Columbia Valley of Washington state.

• The Profile: This vintage offers rich flavors and aromas of blackberry, plum, cherry, and mocha.
• The Pairings: If you’re hungry, this red goes great with BBQ ribs, grilled tri-tip, burgers, or even spaghetti with meatballs.

We are tackling Miniature Adventures: Adventure 1 – Goblin Troubles. Published by Lowtek Games LLC and designed by Jon Lowman, this is an exciting co-op card game inspired by old-school 16-bit RPGs.

The Premise:

The Kingdom of Delriah is having some serious goblin issues, and they need an adventuring party to help! You choose a Hero and a class, then work together to overcome four levels of challenges:

1. Misty Forest
2. Mountain Path
3. Goblin Fortress
4. Goblin Throne

How it Plays:

It plays 1–4 players and relies on dice rolling mechanisms. You slot your rolled dice into your character card to determine your Initiative (speed), Power, and Actions. You have to survive various Encounters, including Mobs (enemies) and Challenges (perils), to win.

Is it fun? Will it wreck your relationship? Here is our final verdict:

• Fun Score: We both loved it!
  • Michael: 8/10
  • Suzy: 8/10
• The Couch Score: (Will it wreck the relationship? 1 = Safe, 5 = Danger)
  • Since it’s co-op, it’s pretty safe!
  • Michael: 2/5
  • Suzy: 1/5
• Time Sink: We rated this a 1 (No Problem)—you can learn it in one or two games without needing hours of tutorials.

We love checking Kickstarter for the coolest new games. This week we shouted out Maiden of the Dark, a Game Boy game by TigerChainsaw.

If you liked the show, be sure to share it with a friend!

• Email: meeplesandwine@gmail.com
• Voicemail: (707) 572-5282
• Socials: Find us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!