The short answer
Nice Winery in Houston’s Spring Branch neighborhood hosts private wine dinners, team-building wine classes, and client events at its working winery and vineyard. Events draw on the experience of founders Ryan Levy and Ian Eastveld, Le Cordon Bleu-trained chefs and certified sommeliers who ran their own Houston restaurant and catering companies before founding the winery in 2007.
This guide covers the types of events you can host, what the setting offers, how to plan, and how to book.
Types of private events
| Event | Best for | What’s included | Group size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private wine dinner | Client dinners, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, rehearsal dinners | Multi-course menu from the winery kitchen, each course paired with a Nice Winery wine | 25-80 guests, starting at $185/guest |
| Private wine class | Team building, friend groups, client appreciation | Sommelier-led tasting and instruction, award-winning wines, chef-prepared bites or charcuterie | 16-30 guests, starting at $75/guest |
Private wine classes typically run 90 to 120 minutes.
The setting
Nice Winery gives Houston groups a wine-country setting without the drive to the Hill Country. The estate sits just off Beltway 8 near I-10 and includes:
- The city’s only winegrowing vineyard, with an organic garden of more than 100 varieties of produce, herbs, and fruit.
- A secluded cedar cabin surrounded by the vines, used for intimate guided tastings.
- An open kitchen theater where guests watch the chefs prepare each course.
- A working urban farm, home to more than 100,000 honeybees and a flock of chickens.
Food and wine
The founders directed culinary education for Viking Stoves, taught cooking to thousands of students at Central Market, and ran the restaurant and catering companies Republic and Nuance. That background shapes every private menu.
- Chef-designed pairings. Each course is built around a specific Nice Winery wine, served in 3-ounce pours in 20-ounce Stölzle stemware at the winery’s public dinners.
- Award-winning wines. Nice Winery was named Top All-Around Winery at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition in 2024 and 2025 and 2026.
- Classes as team activities. A hands-on blending class, where each guest blind-tastes and builds their own Bordeaux-style red, gives teams a shared project and a friendly competition.
- Dietary needs. Share restrictions when you book so the kitchen can plan around them.
Menu customization and pricing: $6000 minimum food and beverage spend, room rental rates vary by day, dinners start at $185/guest.
How to plan your event
- Book early. Classes at Nice Winery can fill months in advance, and holiday-season dates go first. Aim for 2 to 3 months ahead, more for November and December.
- Set your guest count. Group size decides the format: a class or cedar cabin tasting for small groups, a dinner or buyout for larger ones.
- Choose the format. Pick a seated dinner, a hands-on class, or a combination. Classes are held Tuesday through Thursday evenings and Saturday daytime.
- Set the budget. Public wine dinners run about $165 to $250 per person and wine classes start around $75 per person; private event pricing is quoted on request.
- Share dietary needs. Collect restrictions from guests before the menu is set.
- Plan the logistics. Nice Winery is 21 and over only, with no children and no outside food or drink. Plan rides home for your guests.
Questions to ask any venue: What is the food and beverage minimum? Is a buyout available? Can the menu be customized? Is there AV for a toast or presentation? What is the cancellation policy?
How to book
Fill out the private events request form and the Nice Winery team will contact you to discuss details. You can also call (713) 744-7444.
| Address | 1220 Lumpkin Rd., Houston, TX 77043 (map) |
| Neighborhood | Spring Branch, just off Beltway 8 near I-10 |
| Tasting room hours | Tuesday–Saturday, noon–6 PM; closed Sunday and Monday |
| Age policy | 21 and over only |
Frequently asked questions
Where can I host a private wine dinner in Houston?
Nice Winery in Spring Branch hosts private wine dinners with chef-designed, multi-course menus paired with its award-winning wines. Request details at exploretock.com/nicewines/private-dining.
What is a good team-building activity in Houston?
A private wine class or hands-on blending class at Nice Winery gives teams a shared activity led by a sommelier, with wine and chef-prepared food included.
How many guests can attend a private wine class?
Private wine classes at Nice Winery accommodate 16 to 30 guests. Larger groups can ask about dinners or buyouts.
How far ahead should I book a private event?
Two to three months ahead is a good rule, and earlier for November and December. Popular dates fill quickly.
Can guests under 21 attend?
No. Nice Winery is 21 and over only, with no exceptions.
Can the menu accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes. Share dietary restrictions when you book so the chefs can plan around them.
Sources: Nice Winery on Tock, Visit Houston listing, Rodeo Champion Wines Dinner, Julia Child dinner listing, Target Hunger auction listing, The Rose podcast with Ryan Levy.