The Wine Wankers in Texas USA, Hawke’s Bay New Zealand, and Porto Portugal

We do love our wine tourism trips! Visiting wine regions not only gives you a deeper insight into the wine it also puts the wine into the context of the land and the people. You see the vineyards that the wine comes from and you experience the energy of the wineries. And then there is the food! Wine is so much more enhanced by food especially when it’s locally paired.

Below are our recent trips into the homes of wine taken straight out of our Instagram feed as that is where we report our adventures as we go. We hope you get a decent glimpse into the regions and their wine.

So do you enjoy travel into wine regions? Please let us know about your adventures…

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@williamchrisvineyards is def one of my fave Texan wineries thus far – its specialty is Mourvedre, and these gems are breathtaking. And they sell out fast in release. Such a complete, well balanced wine, it’s slightly lighter than a Californian mourvedre, but I believe more expressive. It’s made with minimal intervention. Seek this winery out! Post by Drew #winewankers #wwtexastrip #TravelTexas #TexasToDo #williamchrisvineyards @visitfredtx @texastourism #wwontour @texastourism

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 11, 2016 at 7:19am PST

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OMG 😲 Today I ate at the world famous Salt Lick BBQ, just outside of Austin Texas. The best brisket, ribs, chicken and anything barbecued I've ever eaten! Spoilt!!! All washed down and beautifully matched with @saltlickcellars Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre, made using Texan Hill Country grapes. Post by Drew #winewankers #wwtexastrip #TravelTexas #TexasToDo @visitaustintx #wine #wwontour #wwtexastrip @texastourism

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 10, 2016 at 7:13pm PST

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Competition. Best caption wins Post by Drew #winewankers @williamchrisvineyards #TravelTexas #TexasToDo #wwontour #wwtexastrip @texastourism

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 10, 2016 at 7:11am PST

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They make wine in Texas! Yep – you heard correctly. While America sorts its Presidential mess out, I’ve travelled to Fredericksburg Texas to taste the state’s best offering. The first wine I fell in love with was a hybrid grape variety called Norton. While its widely grown in Virginia, it’s also found a home in Texas. I loved the Stonehouse Vineyard Texas Hill Country 2015 Norton Reserve Claros. A rich and luscious wine with bright berry fruit flavours and a spicy, turkish delight-like background Post by Drew #winewankers @visitfredtx @texastourism #TexasToDo #traveltexas @stonehouse_vine #wwontour #wwtexastrip

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 8, 2016 at 7:02am PST

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Who wants Texas BBQ!!?? Post by Drew @saltlickbbq #winewankers #TexasToDo #wwtexastrip #wwontour @texastourism

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 11, 2016 at 10:31am PST

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Morning at Tuki Vineyard Cottage in Hawke's Bay New Zealand… there could be worse things to wake up to! #postbyconrad #wine #vino #food #travel #winewankers #wwontour #wwhawkesbaytrip

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 9, 2016 at 1:50pm PST

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The 2014 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc was so perfectly matched with the array of Pacific oysters at the Elephant Hill Winery and Restaurant in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The 2015 Reserve Chardonnay is a cracker too with its crisp citrus and slight toast along with a hint of salt from growing by the sea. Elephant Hill is offering a lot under the hammer at this Saturday's charity wine auction. #wine #vino #food #travel

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 10, 2016 at 5:24pm PST

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Are these eggs, or are they minions? Not only is Tony the owner of the specialist super premium chardonnay producer Tony Bish Wines, he's the chairman of the Hawke's Bay charity Wine Auction and a real local legend who is always happy to help others out especially young wine makers coming through. Tony has looked after me for several days now and has made me feel like part of the local crew. He's a top bloke and these eggs he builds here in Hawke's Bay help make some special chardonnay! #postbyconrad #wine #vino #food #travel #winewankers #wwontour

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 12, 2016 at 12:13pm PST

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Vineyards are beautiful! Cypress Wines on the edge of the Gimblett Gravels and Roy's Hill in Hawke's Bay, NZ where we enjoyed some amazing wines! Cypress Wines were supporters of the Hawke's Bay Wine auction for the Cranford Hospice. #wine #winewankers #wwontour #wwhawkesbaytrip

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 13, 2016 at 12:43am PST

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A box full of top flight Hawke's Bay wine! This made up part of the 42 wine related lots that went under the hammer at the Hawke's Bay Wine Auction and helped raise $180k for the Cranford Hospice. Whoever got this one scored! #postbyconrad #wine #vino #food #travel #winewankers #wwontour #wwhawkesbaytrip

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 15, 2016 at 12:50pm PST

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White port on it's own is delicious 😋 , but when mixed over ice with tonic, it's an amazing summer drink. Serve with a sprig of mint Post by Drew #winewankers @fonsecaport #wwportugaltrip #wwontour #wine #port #dourovalley #fonsecaport

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 19, 2016 at 4:56am PST

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A great line up of Ports. Be sure to check out our latest article at winewankers.com on why you should be drinking Port this year – it's time to be rediscovered! Post by Drew #winewankers #wwportugaltrip #wwontour #wine #port #dourovalley #fonsecaport #taylorsport #croftport

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 21, 2016 at 2:01am PST

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What were you doing in 1966? A Vintage Port is considered the pinnacle of Port production: grapes sourced from one year (and only if it’s an exceptional vintage) and from the best vineyards an estate can lay its hands on. It’s bottled after 2 years of oak maturation, before the wine has had a chance to mellow its strong tannins. That’s why these special wines need up to 20 years of bottle age to achieve a Port-like nirvana! Fortunately most Port producers will do the aging for you – but you will have to pay handsomely! Post by Drew #winewankers @taylorsportwine #wwportugaltrip #wwontour #wine #port #dourovalley

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 19, 2016 at 3:51pm PST

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Portugal's Douro Valley. Stunning. Post by Drew #winewankers #port #dourovalley #wwontour #wwportugaltrip

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 21, 2016 at 3:18am PST

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That’s one helleva Port barrel! Post by Drew #winewankers #wwportugaltrip #wwontour #wine #port #dourovalley Check out our article on why you should rediscover Port at www.winewankers.com

A post shared by The Wine Wankers 🍾🤛🎉🥂 (@winewankers) on Nov 21, 2016 at 3:10pm PST

9 comments

fit4thabo says:

November 26, 2016 at 8:43 am

Reblogged this on Creative Domain and commented:
“Wine is so much more enhanced by food especially when it’s locally paired.”

LikeLiked by 1 person

Mabel Kwong says:

November 26, 2016 at 11:15 am

I love the scenic views of wineyards and vineyards 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

dwdirwin says:

November 26, 2016 at 11:19 am

That is an impressive barrel you are standing on!

LikeLiked by 1 person

rabirius says:

November 26, 2016 at 11:03 pm

Excellent.

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Wining with Mel says:

December 3, 2016 at 4:53 am

These gorgeous photos are not helping my urge to get on a plane to New Zealand!! More details here: https://winingwithmel.com/2016/11/24/dreaming-of-warmer-climes/

LikeLiked by 1 person

kerbey says:

December 10, 2016 at 6:32 am

The photo from Tuki Vineyard Cottage is just stunning. I’m in Austin, so I’m glad you enjoyed your Salt Lick trip and your visit to Fredericksburg. There are many vineyards in the Hill Country, so we are blessed to have varieties to choose from. I wish I were as knowledgeable as y’all are about wine; I’ve never even heard of the hybrid grape Norton. 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

schwartzmeyerllc says:

January 25, 2017 at 1:33 am

Reblogged this on L'arte Di Vivere and commented:
Really great wine blog. These guys are awesome.

LikeLiked by 1 person

- Conrad (The Wine Wankers) says:
  
  January 27, 2017 at 10:56 am
  
  Hey, thanks so much!!!
  
  LikeLike
  
Jules & Verne says:

February 16, 2017 at 12:20 am

This is great! Apart from wine, what could have united Texas, New Zealand and Porto under the same title? 🙂 Another wine related trip I really enjoyed: Santiago, Chile

LikeLiked by 1 person