Nice Winery isn’t just another tasting room—it’s a remarkable story of Houston grit, generosity, and a dream that came full circle right here in Spring Branch. Nestled at the corner of Westview Drive and Lumpkin Road (1220 Lumpkin Rd., Houston, TX 77043), this family-owned vineyard stands on land that was once a derelict junkyard, now transformed into three acres of organically farmed vines, a thriving vegetable garden, free-range chickens, and even 100,000 honey bees. As owner Ryan Levy puts it, “In the world, you’ve got things that are family-owned and operated, and then you’ve got those that are owned by a corporation… One of the tenets of our business is to build community and give back.”
Levy’s journey to winemaker began far from the vineyard. After graduating from Dulles High School, he earned a scholarship from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo—“the only way I was able to go to college,” he admits—to attend Rice University. What started as a biochemistry major turned into a degree in economics, a stint in law school at UT, and eventually culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in France. “While I was in France, I fell in love with wine, as one does,” Levy laughs, and upon returning to Houston he balanced practicing law by day with running his first restaurant by night.
In 2007, he began formal wine training at UC Davis and embarked on the ambitious project of planting Houston’s first commercial vineyard within the city limits. That work paid off spectacularly: “Out of almost a thousand wineries from twenty-two countries, we were the number one winery in the entire competition based on the scores of our wines,” Levy beams, holding the belt-buckle trophies he’s won over two decades. Yet the trophies are only part of the story.
Giving back is woven into every bottle. Nice Winery produces three special-label wines whose profits support local charities: an annual Camp Periwinkle fundraiser featuring artwork by a child undergoing treatment at Texas Children’s Hospital (“A family who has a child who’s battling cancer… haven’t they paid enough of a price that we should be able to raise money to send their child away to camp?”), a rosé that recently netted a $40,000 donation to The Rose for free mammograms, and “Ariana,” which backs OpHeart’s 3D-printed heart models for infants with congenital defects. “A really big part of our mission here at Nice Winery is we are all about giving back,” Levy explains. “We make three wines that a hundred percent of the proceeds go back to local charities.”
Visitors don’t just pour a glass and go. Nice Winery specializes in guided wine experiences—no “belly up to the bar, rush them in, rush them out” tastings here. Instead, guests book a session with one of five wine educators, tasting six wines expertly paired with chef-crafted bites by co-winemaker and executive chef Ian Eastveld. On Friday nights, members of the wine club gather in the vineyard for farm-to-table dinners featuring produce from Levy’s own organic garden—“We harvest from the vegetable garden and put that food on our wine club members’ plates,” he says—plus eggs laid by the on-site chickens and honey from the beehives.
Spring Branch has embraced the vineyard as its own. Neighbors who once drove by a junkyard now stop to watch grapevines climb where rusty RVs once sat. “I’m so excited that y’all are cleaning up this corner,” locals told Levy during the two-year rehab. Today, the corner has become a lively community hub where art, agriculture, and education converge.
Levy’s advice to anyone feeling tethered to a prescribed path? “Life is short. Do what you love. Follow your passion. You’ll never work a day if the thing that you do is something that you love.” With every vine pruned, every bottle labeled, and every scholarship-funding competition belt buckle earned, Nice Winery proves that passion, perseverance, and a spirit of giving can turn even a junkyard into something extraordinary.
Reservations are required to experience Nice Winery for yourself, book a guided tasting or join the wine club at nicewines.com.
