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Meeples Merlot

@gamesandgrapes

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Budding board gamer without a game group.
🍷makes everything better
Theme drives what I play
🍗: @omi.n.matcha
📍🇨🇦 Toronto

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I’ve been making an effort to drink a little more local lately 🍷

The more Ontario wine I drink, the more I think we’re entering a really exciting phase. There’s so much happening in our own backyard.

So here are a few of my favourite Beamsville, Jordan, and Niagara on the Lake stops; the spots that make me excited to keep exploring what’s in our own backyard:

Benchlands - more pinot, gamay, and chardonnay!

🌱 @thewateringcan Garden store, lunch spot, plant therapy… basically an excuse to get lost for an hour or so. Wish it was open on Sundays :(

🍇 @bachelder_wines Chardonnay & Pinot Noir that show just how special our cool climate can be. They growing both on several different single vineyard sites to discover where it grows best, which is fun to experience in their “Batcave” taste and buy - appointment only

🍇 @pearlmorissette Boundary-pushing, experimental and never boring.They question conventions, play with varieties and winemaking techniques, and make wines that feel unmistakably connected to this place. I highly suggest their “nucleus” tastings.

🍇 @malivoire A longtime favourite for Gamay with a lovely cheese truck.

🍇 @rosewoodwine Family-owned, great wine, great vibes, and plenty of personality. Lots of personality!

🍔 @fatrabbit Michelin Guide-recognized and making a damn good burger. Even better? They have serious love for Ontario wine, too.

NOTL - a little more touristy with tons of charm

🥧 @13thstreetbakery If butter tarts are your love language, you’ll want to make this your first stop.

🍇 @bigheadwines Their RAW series is seriously special - I almost always leave with the Syrah. Their tasting menus are impossible to choose between, but fortunately, there’s no wrong answer. I can’t wait to try their Lipinski line

🍇 @stratuswines Love their Chardonnay Amphora. And if you’re tasting, book the White Label. Trust me on this one!

🍇 @twosisters_vineyards Consistently one of my favourite stops in NOTL. Great wine and an impressive menu

🍇 @colaneriestatewinery The closest thing to a European escape without leaving Ontario. A ridiculously beautiful patio and almost mandatory cheese plate. My friend group’s favorite stop. taken in Niagara Falls, Ontario by @gamesandgrapes

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12

a month ago

Not exactly the summer of gaming I had planned 😂

I set out to play more, post more, and generally be more present around here. Instead, I had a month where I barely played anything and really didn’t feel like posting. Not sure if I even hung out with anyone all of July 😕

Thankfully, August has got me off the couch a bit more. The games I have played lately have been pretty great!

👻 Spooktacular - love this smart, fun game. I was worried the wifey wouldn’t wanna play as a movie monster that has escaped the big screen, especially with unique asymmetric powers to get used to, but she happily tried 4 different monsters over just a few days because of how quick and silly this game can be. There’s a little take-that, just not enough to really frustrate anyone at the table. I can see myself grabbing for this one often!

🍎 Cozy Stickerville quickly demanded all the spotlight from the wifey. I'm surprised how interesting the decisions are and how difficult some choices can be in this charming co-op game that has you designing a town by placing stickers while deciding between what buildings to build or neighbors to invite. I especially enjoy the small puzzles or mini games some buildings or events bring.

🎵 Loved building my own epic music festival in Fest Season. It was intimidating at first. Tech tracks… tile placement… set collection… action combos… Took a while to get the hang of the combos, but was so satisfying to build your own unique grounds while booking hilariously punny bands. Would love to play again!

🦜 I'm 3 or 4 sessions in on the story driven Forgotten Waters, made more epic by the hilarious writing and voice acting with the app. The games run very long, but as long as you have some fun friends around you, creating and roleplaying as your own pirate is quite the blast!

🐊 The theme and artwork of Feya's Swamp really drew me into this worker placement game that has you exploring, fishing and building in a whimsical swamp full of beautiful characters you draft each round. Way more of a point salad than I expected.

🎥 2 Tom Holland flicks in two weeks! Loved him in Spiderman. Was my least favorite part of the Odyssey, but still loved it! by @gamesandgrapes

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2 months ago

Is ice in your wine a crime? 🧊🚨

How about some frozen fruit?

Rumor has it that adding some frozen mangoes in my Sauvignon Blanc would have me feeling fruity and feral, so I had to give it a try!

I gotta say… I get it! The mango chilled it down, and brought out those tropical flavours of the warmer climate wines from Chile and New Zealand. The wine smelled even better too. It goes down so easy, you almost forget you're drinking wine 😂

The best part? Frozen fruit doesn’t really dilute the wine as much as ice would. That being said… I’m pretty sure I liked the wine even more when I swapped the mango for some frozen jalapeno slices 🥵

How did you keep things cool this summer? Is a little ice in your wine even so bad? Have you tried frozen fruit instead? by @gamesandgrapes

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2 months ago

Had to spread a little more love for Lairs - a game I already know I’ll be actively pulling off my shelf for a long time.

🪙 Imagine a dungeon version of Battleship, but with more traps, rewards, and all around fun. Each player builds out their own dungeon for opponents to desperately escape while collecting treasure, fighting monsters, and trying not to walk directly into disaster.

And those 3D walls?? Sliding them into the player boards to create your tunnels is ridiculously satisfying. Honestly, almost as satisfying as the gameplay itself 😆

😊 What really has me excited though is the potential. I want MORE monsters. MORE traps. MORE treasures. The treasure system already feels genuinely exciting, and there’s a real thrill to charging into the darkness hoping your handful of spent cubes is about to pay off instead of completely ruining your plans.

🤔 I do have a tiny concern that this base game might eventually grow stale without expansions… but after playing against three different opponents, every dungeon felt wildly different. It’s amazing how differently people approach their setups and strategy.

At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if I ran out of score sheets before I ran out of love for this one.

❤️ Special shoutout to @boardzgamer - a great overall person I’m thankful for crossing paths with during this awesome event hosted by @changelinggaming My main goal for this account was to connect with others. I’ve felt embarrassingly alone in the two hobbies this account is all about. Kesava is great! Super kind, happy, generous dude who instantly gives off good vibes. Was great to share a table with him and the just as lovable @meeple.mike x @boardgaymergirl - two beauties who pretty much welcomed me into the community to begin with and made this whole account worthwhile 🙌 taken in Twilight Cafe Midtown by @gamesandgrapes

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5 months ago

Family day planning checklist:
✅ Playground
✅ Pizza
✅ Happy kid
✅ Glass of red for the grown-ups who made it all happen

Thank you @sizzleandserve.co for a much needed break from chasing my beautiful kid around the trees all day in Stoufville. You're on to something special with your incredible pies 🍕 taken in Gallucci Winery by @gamesandgrapes

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4 months ago

Had a great weekend playing board games, sipping wine, and watching wrestling.

Ready for a bit more sunshine in June 🌞 who's ready for patio season?!

🎲 Lost by only one point in Sagrada @floodgategames 😭 Thankfully some Tempranillo softened the blow 🍷 Really love the new art - even though I traded the original with two expansions just to get it. Sagrada was one of the very first board games the wifey & I fell in love with, so it's always nice to revisit ❤️

🍝 Shared some good vino with the broski @enotecasociale Nothing beats good food and wine!

👅 @greektownwrestling is my new obsession. Never want to miss another basement brawl! by @gamesandgrapes

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4 months ago

Celebrating @theravenmeeple and his 2nd Instaversary with some great two player games ✌️ I'm a bit late to the party, but congrats buddy! Such a kind soul who has single handily been keeping me busy on BGA lately.

Honestly, there are so many great two player games right now that I had a hard time picking just one. Thankfully, I just recently posted my latest obsession, Lairs. So I decided to show some love to Grand Austria Hotel. I need to try it at 3 players, but it shines at two. Of course I love a game where I get to keep guests happy by serving them champagne 🥂

Be sure to check out what other two player gems others decided to show out. I really love Harmonies, Patchwork, and Knarr, so can't wait to try the rest 😊 by @gamesandgrapes

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4 months ago

Not the glow-up I expected… but maybe the upgrade Viticulture needed 🤔

🍷 First Impressions: Viticulture Bordeaux Expansion 🇫🇷

As a huge Viticulture @stonemaiergames fan, I was really excited to give their new board a try.

Right away, this feels like a clear improvement to the original game: Wine-making matters more (as it should), you’re way more likely to get the vines or grapes you need, and the face-up cards cut down that “hope for the best” randomness.

The biggest change is the new expert action available in the Spring. Hiring an expert gives you a specific bonus for one action, adding a nice touch of asymmetry that forces you and your opponent to rethink your plan on the fly. The only real downside is that it can add a bit more board scanning and analysis than before.

Overall, the game feels more flexible, and I find myself changing strategies way more often.

🥺 My only let down?

For a Bordeaux expansion, it doesn’t really feel like Bordeaux.

Tuscany at least tries to transport you somewhere with its map and aesthetic. This board lacks beauty. If I’m not drinking French wine and listening to a French playlist, there’s nothing about this expansion that will make me think France. You’re just as likely to grow Sangiovese in Bordeaux as you are French varietals in Tuscany.

As a wine lover, I wanted more immersion. As a gamer? I’m definitely enjoying the changes. So yeah… less France, more function.

🇫🇷 Bordeaux vs 🇮🇹 Tuscany

At 2 players, Bordeaux wins for me.

✔️ More flexible

✔️ More bonuses

✔️ Encourages actual wine production

✔️ No area majority map (thank you 🙌)

Tuscany does have the edge in vibe though. It’s just prettier. More “fun” modules, more personality, more table presence. Bordeaux kind of looks like a spreadsheet your accountant made after a winery tour.

Do you mostly play 2-player? Bordeaux all day!

If I had to own just one? I think I would side with Tuscany. Honestly? My favorite Bordeaux changes (face-up cards + money mattering more) could easily be house-ruled into Tuscany.

Have you tried Bordeaux yet? Curious where people land on this vs Tuscany 👇 taken in Bordeaux, France by @gamesandgrapes

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7 months ago

Games with Grapes 🍇 Concordia @riograndegames

Such a classic! taken in Sicily, Italy by @gamesandgrapes

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5 months ago

I finally understand the fried chicken + champagne love 💛 The bubbles and acidity just clean up every bite so perfectly. Tastes even better during this wild Spurs & Thunder series! Who's everyone got winning it all? by @gamesandgrapes

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5 months ago

Light, easygoing, and surprisingly fun, The “Break In” Pinot @organizedcrimewinery was a perfect pair for The Bloody Inn!

🍒 Red fruit leads the way with cherry and maybe even some subtle cherry cola back there. For $25, I loved the hint of spice and light earthy notes with fresh acidity. Interestingly enough, this one didn’t quite shine for me at the winery (drank pretty hot with much less fruit), but really found its groove in my crib. Id love to try again with some veal and mushrooms!

🩸After a few quick plays, Bloody Inn @pearl_games_ is quickly becoming one of my favorite light-ish games - with its morbid theme and quirky artwork doing some heavy lifting!

At its core, the gameplay is simple but surprisingly captivating. Players essentially discard multi-use cards to take actions to build annexes, bribe accomplices, or murder guests. I find it a challenging puzzle figuring out how to balance when to “deal with guests” versus building up your engine with annexes and accomplices.

🤔 That said, it’s still a game that I am absolutely terrible at (especially on BGA). With only two actions per turn, it’s incredibly tight - sometimes to the point of feeling restrictive. It demands a level of efficiency and forward-thinking that I’m still chasing.

Still, I keep coming back to it. The theme is bold and unusual, the design feels tight and well-balanced, and despite my struggles, I want to get better at it. It may not have endless variety, but what it does, it does incredibly well. Dark, clever, frustrating, and fun. I’m happy for the re-print after failing to find this game for years!

If anyone wants to wipe the floor with me, invite me to a game on BGA 😂 Have you played yet? by @gamesandgrapes

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6 months ago

Game 🎲 vs Grape 🍇 Round 2 💥

🍇The Grape: Bonanza (technically Cabernet Sauvignon)

Some wine folks aren’t the biggest fans of the Bonanza Cab Sauv, thinking it’s a bit jammy or “fruit-punchy.” Can’t say I disagree. It’s alriiiight. It’s smooth & easy, loaded with dark fruit, and a great way to kick off the night before the serious stuff hits the table. I’d happily pair it with a nice juicy burger or some grilled sausages.

The major appeal for most to try this affordable Californian red is the fact that it comes from the same producers of the infamous Caymus

🎲 The game: Bohnanza @riograndegames

Simple. Friendly. Maybe not the heaviest game on the shelf, but it’s the perfect warm-up that leaves everyone ready for something meatier - much like the wine described above 🤔

It is one of my favorite games in the ESL classroom since the trading phase can create some great table talk. My students always roll their eyes when I try to sell them a card game about being a bean farmer, but quickly change their tune after negotiating with their peers to take or trade for their unwanted beans. It’s almost a party game, yet leaves them with some interesting decisions like whether to hold out for a combo or to make a deal.

Final verdict: While both are solid starters to any night, Bohnanza the card game is the only option I would openly choose or recommend. Without the ability to rearrange your hands, it’s quite fun figuring out how cooperative or cutthroat you’ll need to be

Have you tried either? What do you think??! taken in Bonanza by @gamesandgrapes

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7 months ago