Written by: Tomo Jakopović
One of the most common questions among wine lovers is: does a good wine necessarily mean an expensive one? The short answer is — no.
The price of a wine often depends on many factors that have no direct bearing on the quality in the glass. A winery’s reputation, a region’s popularity, limited quantities, marketing costs or market demand can significantly raise the price of a bottle. Of course, some top wines genuinely justify their price, but that does not mean excellent wines cannot be found at very affordable sums.
Today many smaller wineries produce quality wines that offer excellent value for money. Such wines often come from lesser-known regions, or from producers who invest more in the vineyard and cellar than in promotion. That is precisely why they can offer very good wines at prices that do not burden the household budget. On the other hand, large wineries here still carry the stigma of mass-producing poor, cheap wines — but the truth is different. Knowledge, high technology in the vineyard and cellar, and consolidated plots suited to modern mechanisation are the preconditions for inexpensive production; add to that good vineyard sites and varieties suited to that approach, and it is clear that a wine can be both cheap and good.
It is also important to understand that a wine’s quality is not always proportional to its price. The difference between a €10 and a €20 wine is often easy to spot, but the difference between a €50 and a €100 wine will sometimes be noticeable only to more experienced tasters. For most consumers, the most important thing is to find a wine that gives pleasure, regardless of the price on the label.
Among true wine connoisseurs, the rule is that value matters more than price. A good wine is not the one that costs the most, but the one that delivers the most pleasure for its price. So do not let the price mislead you, because among affordable wines lie many gems that can surprise even the most demanding wine lovers.
One of the best examples of outstanding value for money is certainly the Blatina 2024 from the Nuić winery in Herzegovina, which costs just €8.69 at Vrutak and an incredible €5.5 at the winery. The wine is ruby in colour with barely perceptible violet rims that point to freshness. It is pronounced in aromatic intensity, dominated by varietal aromas of ripe cherry and morello, while notes of violet and cyclamen emerge in the background. On the palate it is fine, warm and completely supple, with plenty of succulence and a wealth of ripe tannins. A high freshness keeps it in balance and cleanses the palate, calling for the next sip. This juicy wine is an example of elegance that never flirts with the banal — its 13.5% alcohol and firm, medium body give it real seriousness. It is worth noting that Nuić’s Blatina is also very versatile at the table: classic barbecue, roast lamb, duck with mlinci, cured meats, and young to medium-aged cheeses will all make excellent pairings.
In the end, a wine does not have to be expensive to be good. Sometimes the most pleasant discoveries are exactly those that come from a bottle costing less than you would expect. So explore, taste and trust your own palate — it is often a better guide than the price itself.
