Bosworth and Freakshow Chardonnay

Bosworth and Freakshow Chardonnay

Author: Michael & Suzanne Teske January 26, 2026 Duration: 55:50

Here are the show notes for the episode Bosworth and Freakshow Chardonnay from Meeples & Wine—your podcast of board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand!

Hosts: Michael & Suzy

Wine We’re Tasting Today:
Freakshow Chardonnay 2024 by Michael David Winery

  • Location: Lodi Appellation
  • Profile: Golden straw color with aromas of apricot, citrus, and herbaceous notes. Flavors of Asian pear, honeydew, and juicy peach pie, finished with a lasting oak-inspired touch.
  • Details: 50% aged in new French oak for 4 months, 50% stainless steel (no oak), 99% malolactic fermentation (softens that tart malic acid into smoother lactic acid).
  • Pairings ideas: Buttery dishes, rich cream pastas, broiled fish with butter, steak with garlic butter, buttered rolls.
  • Winery site: https://michaeldavidwinery.com/

Game We’re Playing:
Bosworth (1998)
A chaotic 2-4 player chess variant where pieces are cards drawn randomly from your personal pile. Same classic chess pieces (pawns, knights, rooks, bishops, queen, king), but with twists: pawns move/capture sideways too, kings can capture their own pieces to escape check, and it’s all about multiplayer mayhem on a 6×6 board with blocked corners and face-down covers. Goal? Checkmate everyone else’s kings—last king standing wins!

  • BGG page: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/645/bosworth
  • Designer: Mark Alan Osterhaus (also Apples to Apples, Shipwrecked)
  • Artist: John Kovalic (Munchkin, Cash ‘n Guns, etc.)
  • Publisher: Out of the Box Publishing (defunct since 2015)
  • Rating: 5.8/10 | Weight: 2.1/5 | Players: 2-4

Historical nod: Named after the Battle of Bosworth Field — https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Bosworth-Field

How It Plays with Two Players & Our Takes

  • Super fun with two—keeps the random draws and tension without too much ganging up.
  • Fun Score (1-10): Michael: 8 | Suzy: 7
  • Couch Score (will it wreck the relationship? 1-5): Michael: 3 | Suzy: 2 (mild trash talk potential, but mostly laughs)
  • Time Sink to Learn Rules (1-5): 1 — Pick it up in one or two games, no heavy YouTube needed.

Expansions? None.

Final Sip
How’s the Freakshow Chardonnay evolved since opening? (We chat about it in the episode!)

Last Call – Kickstarter/Gamefound Spotlight
Boktor: A Cooperative Dungeon Quest by Fox Troll Games
Fast-paced dungeon crawler for 1-6 players—explore modular dungeons, evolve your heroes, battle Tyrants, and stop the Vortex. Quick setup, intuitive rules, real strategy, all in ~60 minutes.
Check it out: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/fox-troll-games/boktor-a-cooperative-dungeon-quest

Contact Us!

  • Email: meeplesandwine@gmail.com
  • Voicemail: (707) 572-5282
  • Or leave a message via Speakpipe (link in episode)

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See you next time on Meeples & Wine! Buh-bye! 🍷🎲


Every week, Michael and Suzanne Teske turn their dining table into a testing ground for connection and cardboard. Meeples And Wine-Tabletop Games for Couples is their ongoing experiment in pairing a great game with a great drink, all while navigating the unique dynamics of playing as a pair. You’ll hear their real-time reactions as they learn new rules, their strategic banter during play, and their honest post-game debriefs about what worked, what caused hilarious friction, and what truly brought them together. It’s less a formal review and more a live-play session with friends, where the conversation flows as freely as the wine, beer, or spirit they’re sampling that episode. They focus on games that are ideal for two players or work well in a couple’s setting, always with an eye toward shared enjoyment over cutthroat competition. The result is a warm, relatable podcast that feels like an invitation to their table, offering genuine recommendations for your next game night and a companionable audio experience that celebrates leisure, strategy, and partnership. You get a sense of the game’s mechanics, the drink’s profile, and the unscripted laughter that happens when two people prioritize fun. It’s about finding those perfect combinations that make an evening memorable, ensuring the only thing left on the couch at the end of the night is the game box.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Meeples And Wine - Tabletop Games for Couples
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