does more expensive really mean better?

[Thomas]

The answer to your question is: not necessarily.

Look at buying wine the way you might view going to the movies: you do not know if you will like the movie, but you pay in advance anyway.

With wine, however, you have an opportunity to taste before you buy, sometimes in the retail shop, but often at wine tastings operated by various organizations. Look into local winetastings and then you can explore before you buy.