Category: Fruit Wines

103 Featured
Is Hover: The Cutthroat Hummingbird Game Worth Adding to Your Collection?

Is Hover: The Cutthroat Hummingbird Game Worth Adding to Your Collection?

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Show Notes: Hover – A Brutal Game of Hummingbirds | Meeples & Wine Podcast

In this episode Michael and Suzy sit down with Hover: A Brutal Game of Hummingbirds, a fun hummingbird theme board game where you play as the aggressive little birds fighting over nectar (energy) while racing to build a nest and win a mate. We break down the rules for this area movement game that mixes take that elements, bluffing, and direct conflict in a light strategy package perfect for couples.

We paired the game with the Cherry Kirsche 2024 from Von Stiehl Winery in Algoma, Wisconsin. It is an old-world style cherry brandy dessert wine that works really well with rich chocolate or cheesecake.

The Hover board game comes from designer Victor Shiu and artist Shawna Shiu, published by Ibis Tea. It plays 2 to 4 players and features area movement, resource gathering, stealing from other nests, attacks resolved with hidden energy and beauty, and a big courting call finale to win the game. We talk about how the two player version changes, how the “take that” mechanics feel at the table, and whether it stays friendly enough for couples.

IbisTea Logo Transparent

Hover is launching on Kickstarter on May 19, 2026, so we mention that for anyone looking for new Kickstarter board games in 2026.

We walk through the complete rules summary including setup, movement, area actions in the field, garden, forest and feeder, building your nest with twigs and spider silk, adding lichen for protection, attacking other birds, and pulling off a successful courting call. We also share our fun scores, couch scores for relationship safety, thoughts on the learning curve for this hummingbird board game, and the optional rules like 15 second turns.

Contact Meeples & Wine

We’re Michael and Suzy, your hosts dishing out honest board game reviews for couples, blending wine (or in this case, beer) tastings with gameplay breakdowns. Got feedback? Hit us up at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. And hey, leave a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 – we love hearing from you!

If you enjoy board game reviews for couples, especially area movement games or take that board games with a bit of bite, share this episode with a friend. Thanks for listening and we will see you next time on Meeples & Wine. Buh-bye!

86 hive featured
Hive and Clad & Cordon’s Cordon Blue(berry wine!)

Hive and Clad & Cordon’s Cordon Blue(berry wine!)

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

In today’s episode, we’re tasting Clad & Cordon Vineyard’s Cordon Blue, a blueberry wine from Creal Springs, Illinois. It has a sweet and fruity profile with ripe blueberry notes. This blueberry wine pairs well with creamy desserts, various cheeses, light salads, sandwiches, and even certain meats like chicken or fish.

We’re playing Hive, an abstract board game where the goal is to trap your opponent’s Queen Bee. It’s a two-player game designed and illustrated by John Yianni, and published by Gen42 Games. Each player has 11 insect pieces, including a Queen Bee, Spiders, Beetles, Grasshoppers, and Ants, each with unique movement rules. The game is played without a board, and pieces must remain connected in a “hive”. We also discuss expansions like the Ladybug, Mosquito, and Pillbug, which add new movement abilities and strategic options to the game.

For our “Last Call” segment, we looked at “Trenchcoat Raccoons” on Gamefound, a fast, rules-light tabletop RPG about chaotic heists and cartoon logic. Players control raccoons in a stack, pretending to be a human in a trenchcoat. Next week, we’ll be reviewing Radlands by Roxley Games, a post-apocalyptic game where punk bands fight to destroy rival tribes’ camps.

You can contact us at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. You can also leave us a voicemail at (707) 572-5282. If you like the show, be sure to share it with a friend!

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

65 Potion Panic
Potion Panic and Three Lakes Winery Blueberry Wine

Potion Panic and Three Lakes Winery Blueberry Wine

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We’re back and this week we’re reviewing Rocket House Games‘ Potion Panic a frantic race to become the Alchemist a la Mode by completing potion recipe’s components, smashing vials to get more cards in your hand or to deny your opponents those super valuable crystals! Ten crystals gets you the Philosopher’s Stone, which wins you the game and grants you powers beyond explanation in the next game (well, there is a card that explains them…). How does Potion Panic rate on our Fun scale? How does is rate on our Couch Score (how likely it is for Michael to wind up sleeping on the couch due to the game?)

Get Potion Panic Here!

We also taste a 100% blueberry wine from Three Lakes Winery in Wisconsin. Made from whole ripe blueberries, this isn’t a “blueberry flavored wine beverage” but the real thing!

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!