Category: Card Games

Targi and Borsao Selección Blanco

Targi and Borsao Selección Blanco

Borsao Selección Blanco is a delightful blend of Chardonnay and Macabeo grapes. The Chardonnay brings bright, fruity aromas, while the Macabeo provides structure and body. To preserve its vibrant fruit character, the wine is aged briefly, fermenting in French oak barrels.

The Macabeo grape, also known as Viura, is a versatile white wine grape found on both sides of the Pyrenees in Spain and France. Its flavor profile is quite dynamic; when harvested early and aged in stainless steel, it can be fresh, floral, and aromatic. However, when harvested later and aged in oak, it develops a more weighty, honeyed, and nutty character. This makes it a great wine to accompany your appetizer or pair with fish like hake or monkfish. (In case you’re wondering the image below is a monkfish…)

Big,monkfish,(lophius,piscatorius),on,a,white,background

Tonight’s game is Targi, a highly-rated 2-player board game with a BGG rating of 7.6/10 and a complexity weight of 2.34/5. Designed by Andreas Steiger and illustrated by Taira Akitsu and Franz Vohwinkel, this game is published by KOSMOS.

Targi

In Targi, you take on the role of a leader of a Tuareg tribe. Unlike other cultures, the Tuareg men, known as Targi, cover their faces while the women do not. As a tribal leader, you’ll trade goods like dates, salt, and pepper to earn gold and other benefits, all while trying to expand your tribe.

The game is played on a 5×5 grid, with 16 action spaces along the border and nine blank spaces in the center. Players take turns placing their meeples on the border spaces (avoiding corners and spaces directly across from an opponent’s meeple). Once all meeples are placed, you collect cards from the central grid that correspond to your meeple’s row and column. You can also carry out the actions on the border spaces.

We also have our eye on a cool game on Kickstarter: Camp Grizzly Second Edition by Trick or Treat Studios. After being out of print for over 10 years, this horror survival board game for 1-6 players is back. You play as camp counselors stalked by a maniac named Otis the Bear. To win, you must collect objectives to trigger one of four Finales. The game is filled with Easter eggs and lore, promising 80’s horror moments through the whole game.

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

Radlands and The Culprit Red Blend

Radlands and The Culprit Red Blend

Welcome to Meeples and Wine! Your podcast of board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand!

This week we’re playing Radlands by Roxley Games, a two-player only card game that pits you and your opponent as rival gangs in a post-apocalyptic world! Drawing from the same deck, you’ll defend your three camps with people ranging from the super accurate sniper to the lowly punk (though, remember, PUNKS ARE PEOPLE TOO!) Find synergies and combos to do damage and eventually destroy your opponent’s camps, while launching your raiders to do direct attacks! You can find Radlands at Roxley’s page HERE. (We don’t get any commissions, just helping you find it easy!)

We’re sipping on The Culprit red blend! “The Culprit” is a fruit-forward wine with intense aromas of ripe raspberries and toasty vanilla oak. It offers rich flavors of blackberry jam and dark chocolate, framed by a velvety texture, with a long, lingering, and smooth finish.

For our Last Call, we’re discussing “The Pawn’s Gambit” a chess card game on Gamefound right now! The Pawn’s Gambit is a chess-inspired card game for up to 6 players, blending strategy and tactical duels. Players aim to checkmate rivals or be the last with a surviving king using three card types: Opening Cards, which set unique strategies with medieval characters; Piece Cards, reflecting classic chess pieces; and Imbalance Cards, depicting warfare scenarios that shift game conditions. Win by securing two rounds or outlasting opponents in a chaotic, strategic showdown. You can get notified when it launches HERE! If you love the art, as we did, you can find their Instagram HERE.

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

Sea Salt and Paper with Sea Glass Sauvignon Blanc

Sea Salt and Paper with Sea Glass Sauvignon Blanc

This week we play PandaSaraus Game’s “Sea Salt & Paper” a nice relaxed set making game with some fantastic aquatic origami images with Sea Glass Winery’s Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc. Lately we’ve been playing some serious “take that” games like Smash Up, we take a 180 turn with Sea Salt & Paper, where you gather shells, octupi and other sea life to gather points to win. But be careful, if your opponent thinks they’ve got more points they can declare “Last Chance” and put all their (and your) points on the line!

We’re tasting Sea Glass winery’s Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc, a California white that keeps a citrus nose with a pear flavor, but keeps the bright acidity that New Zealand wines are known for.

Remember that if you want to get in touch, just give us a call at (707) 572-5282‬!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

Smash Up! and the Whiskey Smash Cocktail

Smash Up! and the Whiskey Smash Cocktail

Welcome to episode 80! This time around we’re playing the deck-drafting game Smash Up! by Alderac Entertainment Group. This 2-4 player game pits all the teams that you’ve wanted to see fighting against each other to lay claim to bases to score 15 victory points to win. Have you ever wanted to play Zombie Truckers, Kung-Fu Sheep, or Robot 70’s Vigilantes? All possible in Smash Up!

This episode we’re also not tasting a wine, but a cocktail, the Whiskey Smash (see the connection?) This simple cocktail with only a few ingredients, whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and mint. It’s easy to make and has a nice sweet/sour flavor that goes well with just chilling out and playing your favorite game.

The Kickstarter last call is the Fallen London RPG based off the long running online text-based game of the same name. Venture into the world of Fallen London, which now sits at the bottom of a miles deep chasm, where demons and monsters dwell.

We also have an actual voicemail line now! Call us at 707-572-5282 and leave us a message!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

Summoner Wars and Ménage à Trois – Northern Seduction Red Blend

Summoner Wars and Ménage à Trois – Northern Seduction Red Blend

Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! For our first show of the year we taste Ménage à Trois – Northern Seduction Red Blend, and play Summoner Wars! This hearty red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah has some intense tobacco and leather notes on the nose with a solid dark cherry flavor, some tartness and a mild tannin at the end. We also talk about our play-through of the Vanguard vs Fallen Kingdom in Summoner Wars.

We’re also going to be at the Midwest Gaming Classic again this year! You can find more info on this great gaming event at www.midwestgamingclassic.com. They’ve recently moved into Tabletop and Board Games, Michael and Suzy will be hosting the “Meeples and Wine Tabletop Stage” again this year! If you would like to assist, or if you are a game designer or in the gaming industry go to their Become a Presenter page!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine!

Unmatched: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon

Unmatched: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon

Meeples & Wine: Buffy and the Devil’s Cellar!

Welcome back to Meeples & Wine, where Michael and Suzy bring you the latest in board game reviews for couples—alongside a delicious glass of wine! In this episode, we dive into the world of both vampire slaying and Chilean wine. We’re tasting Casillero del Diablo’s Cabernet Sauvignon, known for its bold cherry and blackcurrant notes with a hint of vanilla, perfect for pairing with grilled meats and mature cheeses. With medium body and marked tannins, this wine unfolds a story as rich as the legend behind its name: “The Devil’s Cellar.”

On the board game front, we’re taking on the supernatural forces of Unmatched: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With a versatile lineup of beloved characters like Buffy, Spike, Willow, and Angel, players battle it out using unique abilities, whether it’s Buffy’s iconic cartwheel kick or Willow’s foray into black magic. With a BGG rating of 7.6 and a complexity of 2/5, this action-packed game plays well with two to four players, offering a great mix of strategy and fandom. Will Unmatched: Buffy prove to be a relationship builder or a couch sleeper? Tune in for our “Fun Score” and “Couch Score” ratings to find out!

To wrap things up, we explore the evolution of our wine over time and highlight a new Kickstarter find—an upcoming Discworld RPG by Modiphius. Don’t forget to follow us on social media, drop us a voicemail, or reach out via email at meeplesandwine@gmail.com. And remember, sharing is caring—so pass on Meeples & Wine to a friend!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

The Hunger and Vampire Vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon

The Hunger and Vampire Vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon

Hello, Meeples and Wine listeners! This week, we sunk our teeth into The Hunger, a vampire-themed deck-builder by Richard Garfield. In the game, you play as vampires hunting humans to gain points, but there’s a catch: you need to make it back to your castle before sunrise, or you’ll burn to ash! It’s a fun push-your-luck experience where you must balance collecting points with your race against time.

We paired the game with a bottle of Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, which was a solid hit with its smoky, oaky flavor and rich notes of plum and mocha. The game was great for two players, but we both agreed it would be even better with a few more friends to compete against. We also touched on the expansion, Hunger: High Stakes, which adds werewolves and vampire hunters into the mix, making the game even more intense.

If you love spooky deck-builders, we definitely recommend giving this one a try, especially with some vampire wine on the side! More info on the wine here.

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

Fire Tower and Toasted Head Chardonnay

Fire Tower and Toasted Head Chardonnay

In this episode, we review Fire Tower and taste Toasted Head 2022 Chardonnay, along with the Last Call Kickstarter “Wild Imaginary West”.

00:00 Welcome to Meeples and Wine
00:24 Meet Your Hosts: Michael and Susie
00:47 Contacting Meeples and Wine
01:02 The Voicemail Debate
02:13 Today’s Game: Fire Tower
02:39 Wine Tasting: Toasted Head Chardonnay
08:41 Fire Tower: Game Overview
12:04 Fire Tower: Game Mechanics
16:42 Fire Tower: Strategy and Gameplay
21:04 Fire Tower: Special Cards and Roles
22:25 Winning Strategies for Shadow of the Wood
22:47 Champion of the Wood: Special Abilities
23:34 Fire Tower: Rising Flames Expansion
25:23 Playing Fire Tower with Two Players
26:11 Balancing Offense and Defense
27:51 Fun Score and Relationship Impact
29:17 Final Thoughts on Fire Tower
32:35 Wild Imaginary West RPG
41:06 Meeples and Wine: Where to Find Us

3000 Scoundrels and 3 Rein Never Tame Red

3000 Scoundrels and 3 Rein Never Tame Red

This week we review Unexpected Games’ 3000 Scoundrels, a futuristic wild-west shootout of bluffing and misdirection! In this game you and up to three more of your friends play rival leaders vying to gather as much of the technology left behind by the mysterious “Traveler” who has just disappeared. Gather your posse together by joining the trait and transparent job cards to create new Scoundrels to hire, will you have a Corrupt Printer, Filthy Dog, or Helpful Banker? Play your poker hand to gain cash, scout the tech loaded safes, and then steal them, but be careful, if you get caught bluffing you’ll lose reputation in town!

If you’d like to pick this one up you can follow our Amazon Associates link to 3000 Scoundrels HERE!

(We do get a little cash on this, and you get a great game!)

Img 20240716 204048

We also sample Aldi’s 3 Rein Red Blend from Colombia Valley, Washington!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

Dark Tomb: Bloodthorn Island and The Supernatural Sauvignon Blanc

Dark Tomb: Bloodthorn Island and The Supernatural Sauvignon Blanc

This week Michael and Suzy play the second game from their Kozz games Kickstarter, Dark Tomb: Bloodthorn Island! It’s the follow up to the first game, Crypts of Aurelian. This time around, though, it’s got a BOAT! We also taste The Supernatural Sauvignon Blanc, a 100% Sauv Blanc from New Zealand!

68 Dark Tomb 2

Be sure to check out our Kickstarter Last Call, Imperial Borders, HERE!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/