John Rydman
President and Owner
Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods
John Alan Rydman (Hon ’08) graduated from the University of North Texas (UNT) with a degree in music. Upon graduating, he entered the liquor and wine business, where he fell in love with wine. This passion led him to be named the president of Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods in 1987. Rydman has played an integral role in the company’s wine division growth for over 30 years. Upon joining the company in 1972, there were 20 wines available for purchase; today, there are over 16,000. Likewise, with his wife, Lindy, Rydman has led the expansion of 7 to 210 stores across Texas, employing over 5,000 people.
The Rydman’s founded the Spec’s Charitable Foundation, which has a strong emphasis on education. The foundation has worked with the Vintage Virtuoso fundraiser for the Houston Symphony for over 25 years. This fundraiser has raised several million dollars which go toward supporting educational entities across Texas. It’s also worked with Spec’s Cork Project, which collects corks and generates income through recycling, which is donated to Texas Children’s Hospital.
In 1999, the Ryman’s also started the Spec’s Charitable Foundation Scholarship and Endowment at the UNT. They’ve continued to give back to communities by creating a scholarship with the Galveston-Houston Catholic Diocese, Wine and Spirits Institute and an annual golf tournament fundraiser for the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership.
Over the years, the Rydman’s have earned several awards, including Market Watch Magazine’s Leaders Award, UNT’s Green Glory Service Award, the Texas Association for Symphony Orchestras’ Award of Excellence, My Table Magazine’s Legends of Houston Award, North Texas Exes Association’s Martha Turner Award of Distinction, the James V. Leggett Jr. Humanitarian award and Ernest & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Likewise, the Rydman’s have earned several recognitions, including the Market Watch (Wine Spectator) Retailer of the Year, Food & Wine Magazine’s America’s Top Wine Shop, Houston Press’ Best Liquor Store almost every year, the Wine Enthusiast’s US Retailer of the Year and National Association of Specialty Food Trade’s Outstanding Specialty Food Retailer of 2010.
Rydman himself serves on the Hilton College Dean’s Advisory Board, the Texas Department of Agriculture Wine Advisory Board, the Houston Symphony Trustee and Board of Directors, as well as held varying officer, board member and leadership roles for many companies within the wine business throughout his 52-year career. He has also served as president of the Houston Symphony Board of Trustees 2020-2023 and is currently chair of the Artistic & Orchestra Affairs committee and chair of the Dean’s Development Board at UNT College of Music.
Rydman has actively promoted French wines, Cognacs and Armagnacs for 40 years. For over 15 years, Rydman has served on the board of the International Wine and Food Society. Here, he also served as the president of the Houston chapter. His 12-year membership to the Chaine des Rotisseurs, Maitre Rotisseur and Order Mondial has aided him in promoting French wines, spirits and foods.
Rydman has been inducted into the Beaujolais Order of Saint Vincent; Commanderie des Bontemps of the Medoc, Graves and Sauternes; and the French Government’s Legion of Honneur as Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite Agricole de la République Française.