One of our favorite things about running a bottle shop at Akin Cooperative is getting to share wines with a story.
Not just where they come from, but who made them, why they were made, and the people and places behind every bottle.
Every so often, we open a wine that checks all the boxes: approachable, interesting, food-friendly, and perfect for the season. Milan Nestarec BEL 2023 is one of those wines.
This Moravian white wine from the Czech Republic is one of our current pour choices and the kind of bottle that reminds us why we love natural wine in the first place. Bright, refreshing, and full of personality, it’s become one of our favorite pour choices for summer.
Meet the Winemaker
Behind the bottle is Milan Nestarec, one of the most influential voices in modern natural wine.
Based in Moravia, a historic wine-growing region in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic, Milan grew up around wine. His family had been making it for generations, but like many producers in the region, they followed more conventional methods for years.
That changed when Milan began questioning why wine needed so much intervention in the cellar.
Inspired by natural winemaking movements across Europe, he shifted toward farming and winemaking practices that allow the vineyard to speak for itself. Today, his wines are known for their energy, honesty, and ability to challenge expectations without ever feeling pretentious.
His philosophy is simple: wine should be alive.
Rather than chasing perfection, he embraces individuality. Vintage variation isn’t a flaw. It’s part of the story.
And that’s exactly what makes his wines so compelling.
What’s In The Glass?
BEL 2023 is bright, fresh, and incredibly drinkable.
Expect notes of citrus peel, green apple, orchard fruit, fresh herbs, and a subtle mineral edge that keeps everything lively. There’s texture here, too, giving the wine a little more depth than your average summer white.
It’s crisp enough for hot weather but interesting enough to keep you coming back for another sip just to see what unfolds.
The kind of wine that seems to evolve alongside the conversation.
What We Paired It With
When we opened this bottle, we reached for a few simple snacks:
• Potato crisps
• Goat cheese
• Blue cheese stuffed olives
The salty crunch of the crisps played beautifully against the wine’s bright acidity, while the creamy goat cheese softened some of the sharper citrus notes. The blue cheese olives brought a savory richness that made the wine feel even more vibrant.
Nothing complicated.
Just good snacks and a good bottle.
Sometimes that’s all you need.
The Summer Vibe
BEL 2023 feels like golden-hour wine.
It’s the bottle you open while sitting on a patio after the sun starts to dip behind the mountains. It’s perfect for a picnic at the park, a backyard gathering with friends, or one of those slow evenings where nobody is checking the time.
You don’t need a special occasion.
In many ways, the wine becomes the occasion.
There’s an effortless quality to it. Curious but approachable. Relaxed but memorable.
The kind of bottle that gets passed around the table while everyone asks, “Wait, what is this?”