Ian Eastveld, left, and Ryan Levy
In 2012, the Houston Chronicle described it as “one of northwest Houston’s little-known secrets.”
At the time, Houston’s first commercial production estate wine vineyard inside the city limits — Nice Winery — was, as the newspaper said,“tucked away in a nondescript industrial park.”
As 2021 comes to a close, Nice Winery has moved to the corner of Westview and Lumpkin. Yet it remains under the radar for many people, despite Nice Wines being poured in top restaurants and having won gold medals in internationally recognized competitions.
Now located just inside the borders of the Spring Branch Management District with a view of the landmark silos across Westview, Nice Winery is cultivated by Houston natives: Le Cordon Bleu-trained chefs and certified sommeliers Ryan Levy and Ian Eastveld.
I was at the Lazy Oak Beer Garden one sunny afternoon, less than a mile away from the winery, when a Spring Branch resident inquired, pointing southwest: “What do you know about this Nice Wines?”
Step inside the winery or take a peek at their website and you will quickly learn what Nice Winery is — and what it is not. A whole section of the website is dedicated to delineating between the two.
At Nice Winery, you will find sustainably-farmed wines made at family owned vineyards without the use of chemicals or additives. The tastings are sit-down affairs focused on wine education, with highly qualified staff guiding you through wine flavors and processes and food pairings.
What Nice Winery is not is a wine bar. The website puts it bluntly: “If you want to drink with friends and wear cute birthday hats, we respectfully ask that you find a different venue.”
(Not to worry, there are plenty of other places in the Spring Branch District where you can don that birthday sash and belly up to the bar.)
The education-forward approach doesn’t mean Nice Winery isn’t a warm, inviting and fun place to hang out. You just have to make an appointment for a tasting, buy tickets to a wine dinner and/or “join the club.”
Nice Wine Club membership benefits include monthly shipments of select wines, discounts and invitations to tasting events and classes. Club members can pick up their allotments and enjoy a glass or two on the grounds of the winery while chatting up with the winery owners and their knowledgeable staff. Chef might even drop in with a sample of a dessert he is preparing for that night’s theme dinner. You might find yourself signing up for their next wine education excursion, perhaps a cruise along the Rhone River in France.
Levy and Eastveld produced their first wine in 2007. Nice now offers more than 30 different wines at various times that are sold and distributed to 2,000 club members, served at high-end local restaurants such as the Rainbow Lodge and Brasserie 19, and available for purchase at select local HEBs, Central Market and the winery.
Levy was working as a lawyer and running a restaurant in Dallas in 2005 when he realized there was a lack of emphasis on making wine meant to be paired with food. So, he and Eastveld closed up shop and moved to California to train to be sommeliers and wine-makers to produce what was lacking.
Levy credits the success of Nice Wines to the small-scale production. Nice Wines are produced at family owned wineries in Argentina, Washington, California and, of course, Texas — in small batches.
Their wines have been lauded in Wine Enthusiast and awarded 94 out of 100 points.
The partners’ passion for food and wine was shaped, in part, while living in France. Their tiny flat was conveniently located above a cheese shop, bakery and wine shop.
“Claude in the wine shop” never failed to pair the perfect wine with their afternoon snack procured from the neighboring shops, broadening their palates and helping them learn about each wine they tasted.
Now Levy and Eastveld have made it their mission to extend that kind of personal service and wine education to their neighbors in Houston.
While Nice Winery does not have a full-service restaurant, food is a central part of the operations. Executive Chef Randy Pinney, formerly of The Capital Grille, constantly churns out creative and stunning culinary delights to go with the wines, whether you are visiting for a tasting or attending a lavish wine dinner.
Besides making good wines and finding the perfect pairings, the wine-makers are known for giving back to the community through donations (half of their tastings are donated to charity) and through wines they produce specifically as charity wines.
Every bottle of Nice Rosé sold benefits The Rose, the leading nonprofit breast health care organization in southeast Texas, and a full 30 percent of the proceeds from every bottle of Periwinkle red wine funds The Periwinkle Foundation programs for children, teens and young adults who are challenged by cancer or other life-threatening illnesses and cared for at Texas Children’s Hospital.
The crisp and juicy Grenache Blanc and Viognier blend “Ariana” wine is named after the daughter of a friend and wine club member diagnosed with a life-threatening congenital heart defect. While Ariana received the life-saving open-heart surgery she required, many infants do not. Her mother founded OpHeart to help save the lives of other babies. OpHeart, which receives proceeds from the Ariana wine sales, utilizes 3D printing to create replicas of tiny patients’ hearts for surgical planning.
Levy said he likes to give back because he knows he wouldn’t be where he is today without community support.
While his smarts no doubt got him in the door, Levy said he credits his ability to attend his “dream school,” Rice University, to a scholarship from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Gov. Ann Richards presented him with his scholarship.
Now Levy, Eastveld and Nice Winery have racked up an array of awards from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo’s Uncorked International Wine Competition, all on display at the Spring Branch District winery, with more to come.
The winners of the 2022 rodeo wine competition, featuring 2,862 entries from 17 countries, were recently “uncorked.” Nice Winery was awarded a Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show Saddle, eight new Class Champion belt buckles and 33 medals.
Nice Winery
10520 Westview
Houston, TX 77043
