Nice Winery

Ryan Levy is starting his 20th year as a winemaker.  He is also a Le Cordon Bleu trained Chef and Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers.  A native Houstonian, Ryan attended Dulles High School and received a Rodeo Scholarship to study at Rice University.  Ryan graduated with honors from Rice University and earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law.  Ryan calls himself a "recovering" attorney- since leaving the practice of law he co-owned the restaurant "Republic" in Dallas with Le Cordon Bleu classmate and fellow winemaker Ian Eastveld and now makes organic and sustainably grown wine, teaches wine classes, and leads culinary classes at Nice Winery's Houston headquarters. In 2019, he created and planted the first commercial winegrowing vineyard inside the city limits of Houston. Nice Winery is now home to a modern organic apiary, organic vegetable and herb gardens, and a sustainably farmed vineyard.  It boasts a state of the art kitchen and production facility that has become the epicenter of wine and culinary education in Houston.

Ryan's wines have won top honors in the massive Houston Rodeo International Wine Competition including twice winning Reserve Grand Champion Best in Show, and twice winning Top All Around Winery. His wines have received 94 point ratings and acclaim from both Wine Enthusiast Magazine and the Beverage Testing Institute.  Ryan crafts 40 wines from sustainably farmed, family owned vineyards in Texas, California, Argentina, and Washington state.  Ryan's commitment to giving back includes serving on multiple foundation boards and raising over $2M for local charitable causes through his winery's extensive philanthropic initiatives.