Corks & Chaos

07/13/2026

07/13/2026

07/13/2026

Rising Sun Winery: A Hidden Gem Worth the Detour

Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you never planned.

Much to Mike’s disappointment, we spotted a winery on our drive home and, naturally, there was no chance we were passing it by. That spontaneous stop turned into one of the best winery visits we’ve had in a while.

Welcome to Rising Sun Winery.

Our tasting started with Jody sampling Morning Dew, Daybreak, and Vino Sandia, while I worked my way through the Aurora Red Blend, Dulce Roja ’22, and finished with their port, Yegua Knobbs.

Then it happened.

Jody reached for one of our famous wine straws and declared Vino Sandia officially straw-worthy. If you’re wondering what it tastes like, imagine biting into a perfectly ripe watermelon on a hot Texas afternoon. It’s refreshing, sweet, incredibly easy to drink…and just dangerous enough that you might forget how many glasses you’ve had.

One of the highlights of our visit was meeting Shayna, the winery’s sommelier. Trained in France, she somehow blends impressive wine knowledge with an easygoing personality that immediately makes you feel at home. She laughs with you instead of talking over you, making the tasting feel more like spending time with an old friend than attending a formal wine class.

Every wine we sampled was thoughtfully crafted, and not a single pour disappointed. Rising Sun has officially earned a permanent spot on our “We’ll Be Back” list. The best part? It’s only about an hour from home, making it the perfect destination for a spontaneous afternoon getaway.

And here’s a bonus for anyone trying to convince their significant other to tag along…

Right next door is Yegua Creek Brewery.

Ladies, if your guy isn’t exactly thrilled about spending an afternoon wine tasting, we’ve found the solution. Drop him off at the brewery while you enjoy the winery—or better yet, meet back up afterward. They serve steaks, burgers, and pizza, and keep the atmosphere lively with live music, special events, and bingo nights. It’s the kind of place where everyone wins.

Corks & Chaos Verdict

🍷 Vino Sandia earns our official Straw-Worthy designation.

As for Rising Sun Winery? It’s exactly why we love chasing small wineries. No pretentious atmosphere, no pressure—just great wine, wonderful people, and an afternoon full of laughter.

Sometimes the unplanned stops become the stories you can’t wait to tell.

Until next pour… stay chaotic. 🍷💀

07/12/2026

Rain, Mead, and a Reality Check in Gruene

July 11, 2026

Sometimes the best travel days don’t start with a plan—they start with sleeping like a rock.

After a lazy morning filled with coffee, conversation, and a little lounging around, we made a quick run to H-E-B to pick up breakfast supplies for the next day. Texas weather had other ideas, and by the time we headed back, the rain was coming down in sheets. Fortunately, it passed just long enough for us to load up the car and set off on our winery adventure.

First Stop: Blue Lotus Winery

Our first destination was Blue Lotus Winery in Seguin, and it reminded me why I keep coming back.

The property is beautiful, with a spacious tasting room, outdoor seating, cozy cabins, and vineyards stretching across the landscape. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down and stay awhile.

One thing that makes Blue Lotus unique is that they produce both traditional wines and mead. If you’ve never tried mead, you’re missing out. Made from fermented honey, it has a character all its own and is worth seeking out.

Since we had several stops planned, we promised ourselves we’d pace the day and limit each winery to one tasting.

My Tasting

* Cabernet Sauvignon ’21
* Blue Lotus ’22
* Chocolate Cherry Blue Lotus
* Peach Mead
* Dragon’s Tale Mead

Jody’s Mead Flight

* Blueberry Jasmine
* Dragon’s Tale
* Mac Monster
* Rango
* Archer

There were several standouts, but we both agreed our favorites were Chocolate Cherry Blue Lotus, Dragon’s Tale, and Rango. The biggest surprise was Mac Monster, which had an incredibly buttery finish with distinct macadamia nut flavors.

One of the highlights of the visit was getting to chat with Mike, the vintner (not our Mike!). It’s always enjoyable talking with the people behind the wine, and his passion for what they create is obvious.

Of course, after finishing our tasting, we couldn’t resist ordering a full glass of Chocolate Cherry.

Blue Lotus also does a fantastic job creating experiences beyond wine tasting. Mike and Melissa keep their calendar packed with events, from wine pairings and potlucks to candle-making workshops. Before we left, I even signed Judy up for their Wine & Ice Cream event in August. Honestly, I never would have thought to pair wine with ice cream, but now I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing how that works.

Next Stop: Winery on the Gruene

Our next stop was Winery on the Gruene.

It had been years since I’d visited Gruene, and like so many charming Texas towns, it has grown into a bustling tourist destination. The streets were packed with visitors enjoying the beautiful weather and preparing to float the Guadalupe River.

The winery itself was busy, and we were quickly handed a menu featuring mostly California wines and house blends. Tastings were four pours for $16.25.

Unfortunately, this stop just wasn’t for us.

The service felt rushed, the atmosphere lacked the welcoming hospitality we’d just experienced, and we never really felt invited to slow down and enjoy the wines. We sampled our four selections, finished our tasting, and decided it was time to move on.

Not every winery is going to be your favorite, and that’s part of the adventure. Sometimes the places you love make the next stop even more memorable by comparison.

As we left Gruene behind, we were excited to see what the rest of the Texas Wine Trail had waiting for us.

⸻

Corks & Chaos Rating

* 🍷 Blue Lotus Winery: Absolutely worth the stop. Great wine, outstanding mead, friendly owners, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay all afternoon.
* 🍷 Winery on the Gruene: Beautiful location, but it wasn’t our style. Sometimes the experience matters just as much as what’s in the glass.

07/12/2026

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07/12/2026

Off on Another Adventure!

July 10, 2026

This weekend, Jody and I hitched up the little Hopper and headed to New Braunfels for another weekend escape. We booked a spot at Treeside RV Resort, mostly because it’s just a short drive from Seguin—home of Blue Lotus Winery.

We had visited Blue Lotus’s tasting room in Fredericksburg(actually Hye, Texas) before and absolutely loved it, so this time we wanted to experience the original winery.

We rolled into Treeside around 4:00 p.m., and first impressions were fantastic. The resort is clean, well-kept, and full of RVs enjoying the weekend. It has a beautiful pool, a small camp store, and even a handful of adorable cabins available for rent.

One thing we’ve already learned about traveling with the Hopper: setup is ridiculously easy. Within minutes we were leveled, plugged in, and relaxing.

Of course, relaxing only lasted about five minutes before we were off in search of wine.

Love at First Sight

While looking for nearby wineries, we stumbled across Windmill Farms Winery, and the moment we pulled in, we knew we’d found something special.

Rustic metal buildings. Mismatched outdoor seating. Shade trees. String lights. The kind of place where nobody is in a hurry.

Jody looked around and smiled.

“This is our place.”

She wasn’t talking about buying the winery (although…). She meant this is exactly what we’ve always imagined creating one day—a casual wine garden where people gather with friends, laugh, and stay longer than they planned.

Walking around, it felt like someone had built our daydream.

Challenge Accepted

Then we saw the wine list.

Thirty wines.

Challenge accepted.

Their tastings are served four wines to a board for only $14, so naturally we ordered two flights.

Amanda’s First Flight

* Fiesta Sangria
* Black Cherry Noir
* Farmers Fight
* Black Cab

Jody’s First Flight

* Kiwi Pear Blanc
* Laubach Lemonade
* Cranberry Bliss
* Panther Juice

As soon as I started sampling Jody’s choices, I realized she had absolutely nailed it.

Every single one was straw-worthy.

For those new to Corks & Chaos, that’s one of our highest compliments. If we’re sticking a straw directly into the bottle, you know it’s good.

The Farmers Fight and the Black Cab were what I call “evening wines.” Rich, smooth, and perfect for sipping slowly on the porch after dinner while watching the sun disappear.

Round Two

Because apparently we have self-control issues…

Amanda’s Second Flight

* Aquareana
* Pom Pom Zin
* Donkey Barn Merlot
* The Full Monte
- [ ]
Jody’s Second Flight

* Navarro Nectar
* Wild Watermelon
* Barbarosa Berry
* Blackberry Reserve

Out of all eight wines we tasted during the second round, seven earned our coveted Straw-Worthy rating.

The only exception was Donkey Barn Merlot. It wasn’t bad—it was actually pretty interesting—but it just wasn’t my style.

That’s the fun of wine tasting. Sometimes you find your next favorite bottle. Sometimes you simply appreciate the experience and move on.

Naturally…

We left with a case of wine.

I don’t think anyone is surprised.

More Than Just Great Wine

Windmill Farms isn’t just about the wine.

The winery is full of fun wine-themed gifts, quirky souvenirs, and little details that make you want to wander around with a glass in your hand.

Just outside sits a food truck serving authentic schnitzel.

I’m not exaggerating when I say it was the best schnitzel I’ve had this side of the Atlantic.

Corks & Chaos Rating

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 Maximum Chaos

Beautiful atmosphere.
Friendly people.
Outstanding wines.
Great food.
A place we’ll absolutely return to.

06/29/2026

A few pictures from the weekend