Why it matters
The producer
Milan Nestarec was born into a winemaking family in a winemaking village, with a father who had experience working in a German vine nursery. He is based in Velké Bílovice and runs the estate with his wife Mirka Nestarcová and their family.
The vineyards are farmed regeneratively and exclude herbicides, pesticides, industrial fertilisers and systemic treatments. In the cellar, grapes are harvested by hand, fermented spontaneously with wild yeast, pressed slowly and gently, and bottled without fining or filtration. Reds generally receive gentle maceration, while whites usually receive a small amount of short skin contact.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
The vineyards are concentrated around Velké Bílovice and Moravský Žižkov in southern Moravia. The principal soils are loess and clay, with some sandy plots.
WTB narrows this broad setting to Úlehle in Bílovice, a loess vineyard planted with Grüner Veltliner. Its small, thick skinned fruit retains acidity, giving the wine a lush, long shape.
Wines to know
The range in view
Běl, Nach and Okr belong to the everyday one litre family. Běl is a white blend based principally on Grüner Veltliner, Welschriesling and Müller Thurgau. It is made without maceration, with gentle pressing and time in tanks. The wine is fruity and approachable, with good acidity and a citrus aroma.
Okr is the amber skin contact counterpart to Běl and Nach. It blends Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and Pálava. The 2024 Okr spends three to five days on skins and stems before free run juice moves to stainless steel and wood. It has restrained tannins, energetic aromatics and only a hint of overt orange wine character. The 2023 Okr has tropical fruit, a crunchy palate and a festive character.