January and February were quieter tasting months for me. Between travel, work, and fewer events, I simply didn’t taste as many wines as usual. Normally I build these monthly round-ups from a large pool of bottles, but this time I approached it a little differently. Instead of choosing from quantity, I focused on the best value wines.
These are wines that offer much more character, balance, and personality than their price suggests. Some are everyday bottles that perform far above their category, others are slightly more expensive but deliver the kind of complexity you would normally expect from much higher price tags.
The selection moves between Austria and Italy, across whites and reds, and shows something important about wine in general: great drinking doesn’t always need a big budget.
Here are five wines from the last two months that impressed me the most for their value.
Bründlmayer – Ried Spiegel Grau- & Weißburgunder 2022
Technical / production notes:
- Blend of Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc).
- From the single vineyard Ried Spiegel above Langenlois in Kamptal, Austria.
- Deep loess soils rich in limestone.
- Fermented partly in stainless steel and partly aged in used Austrian and French oak, followed by maturation on fine lees in large Austrian casks.
Price: €23.50 (winery webshop)
Tasting note:
Medium yellow colour with a light golden rim. The nose is immediately generous and expressive: apricot, ripe peach, white blossom and honeysuckle appear first, followed by a subtle twist of ginger and white pepper. On the palate the wine is juicy and mouth-filling, repeating those apricot and white peach flavours. The ginger note adds lift and a small spicy edge that keeps the fruit from feeling heavy.
The body sits comfortably in the medium-plus range, the acidity is fresh but not sharp, and the finish stays long and clean with a clear stone-fruit character.
Why this wine is interesting:
Ried Spiegel is a hill site with excellent air circulation and deep loess soils. These conditions allow the Burgundy varieties to ripen slowly while still maintaining freshness. You can feel this balance in the wine: ripe fruit but no heaviness.
The ageing is also very clever. Part stainless steel keeps the fruit bright, while the time in large oak casks adds texture and structure without obvious woody flavours. The result is a white wine that feels polished, gastronomic and very versatile at the table.
Gruber Röschitz – Grüner Veltliner Weinviertel DAC 2024
Technical / production notes:
- 100% Grüner Veltliner from Röschitz in the Weinviertel region of Austria.
- Vines planted on loess and granite soils.
- A classic Weinviertel DAC style designed to highlight freshness and varietal character.
Price: €9.20 (winery webshop)
Tasting note:
Bright pale lemon in the glass. The nose is lively and aromatic, packed with citrus notes: lemon peel, orange zest and blossom flower, accompanied by the typical Grüner Veltliner spice of white pepper. There is also a small buttery nuance that rounds the aromatics slightly.
On the palate the citrus flavours dominate again. The wine has a good structure for its price level, medium body, and excellent freshness. The acidity keeps everything vibrant and leads into a crisp, lingering finish that invites the next sip very quickly.
Why this wine is interesting:
This is a perfect example of why Grüner Veltliner is Austria’s most important grape. Even at entry-level prices it can deliver freshness, spice, and character.
The combination of citrus fruit, light peppery spice and moderate alcohol makes the wine extremely drinkable. It works beautifully as an aperitif, but also with simple food. Wines like this are often underestimated, but they show how much pleasure can come from straightforward, well-made bottles.
Cantina Vignaioli Scansano – Vigna Fiorini Vermentino Maremma Toscana DOC 2022
Technical / production notes:
- Blend of 85% Vermentino and 15% Viognier from Tuscany’s Maremma region.
- Late harvest to increase flavour concentration.
- Cold maceration followed by slow fermentation with selected yeast.
- Short maturation on fine lees in stainless steel tanks.
Price: around €10 in Italy
Tasting note:
Bright golden colour with noticeable viscosity, already suggesting richness. The nose is very aromatic and honey-driven, showing notes of ripe quince, pear, mango, chamomile and brioche, with a gentle nutty undertone.
On the palate the texture is almost oily, which makes the wine feel rounder than its dry style suggests. The flavours follow the nose closely: quince, honey and peach dominate, while nutty and slightly spicy tones appear towards the finish.
Despite the richness, the acidity remains high and refreshing, giving the wine a long, balanced finish.
Why this wine is interesting:
The grapes are harvested later than usual, which concentrates aromas and sugars. In many cases that would lead to a sweet wine, but here fermentation continues until the wine is completely dry.
This creates a fascinating contrast: the aromas suggest honey and sweetness, but the palate remains dry and lively. The result is a surprisingly complex white wine that pairs particularly well with spicy or strongly flavoured dishes.
Vinchio Vaglio – Laudana Nizza DOCG 2021
Technical / production notes:
- 100% Barbera from vineyards on the Bricco Laudana ridge between Vinchio and Mombercelli in Piedmont.
- South-facing vineyards on sandy soils with some clay.
- Fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks followed by about 18 months of ageing in French oak barriques.
- Additional bottle ageing before release.
Price: around €30
Tasting note:
Medium-depth ruby colour with bright purple hints. The nose is intense and fruit-driven with sweet red cherries, strawberry and blueberry, layered with violet, vanilla, chocolate and black pepper.
On the palate the wine is extremely smooth and juicy. Tannins are present but gentle, while the acidity keeps everything lively and fresh. The body is medium-plus, and the finish is long and refreshing, with the red fruit flavours returning together with peppery and chocolatey spice.
Why this wine is interesting:
Barbera is naturally high in acidity, which gives the wines their vibrant and juicy character. In the Nizza DOCG zone the grape reaches extra concentration and structure, creating wines that combine richness with freshness.
This bottle shows that balance very clearly: generous fruit, smooth texture, and enough structure to age further while already being very enjoyable now.
Tenuta Stella – Sdencina Rosso 2021
Technical / production notes:
- Red blend based mainly on Schioppettino and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso from Friuli.
- Fermented with wild yeasts in wooden vats without temperature control.
- Aged about 20 months in French oak barrels and barriques.
Price: €21.64 (winery webshop)
Tasting note:
Medium-plus colour with a deep ruby tone and slight garnet reflections. The nose is dominated by spices: dark cherry, blackcurrant and blackberry appear alongside cinnamon, coffee and dark chocolate, with a subtle earthy background.
The palate is ripe and structured with firmer tannins than the other wines on this list. Freshness keeps the wine balanced while the fruit flavours remain juicy and expressive. In the finish the spice profile becomes more pronounced, showing cloves, cinnamon and chocolate that linger for quite some time.
Why this wine is interesting:
Friuli is widely known for its white wines, but its native red varieties can produce wines with serious character. Schioppettino and Refosco both bring spice, acidity and structure.
The result is a wine that feels powerful yet balanced, with the kind of depth that makes it ideal for hearty dishes like grilled meat, barbecue or slow-cooked beef.
Conclusion
Even with fewer tastings, these two months confirmed something I always find encouraging: best value wine exists at many price levels.
A 9€ Grüner Veltliner can be just as satisfying in the right moment as a more structured Italian red or a carefully crafted single-vineyard white. What matters most is balance, character and how well the wine delivers what it promises.
These five bottles show that very clearly — each in its own style, each offering something distinctive, and all proving that discovering good wine doesn’t always require a big investment.
The Author
