Upon much deliberation, our overall masked winner revealed a style and character that provided us with a fairly clear cut insight into the modern day advances of a region etched in history and tradition. Cosme Palacio consistently produces one of our favourite Riojas that always offers incredible value for money. Produced predominantly from Tempranillo grown in cool, relatively high altitude sites, this is modern Rioja that's bright and ready to go thanks to a touch of bottle age. It's medium bodied with fine tannins and juicy in the mouth. Black fruits dominate the flavour profile with some delicate cedar and earthy notes adding complexity to a delicious example from this much loved region.

Sancho Garces pays homage to King Sancho Garcés III el Mayor, king of the Kingdom of Pamplona between 1004 and 1035, who promoted the pilgrimage route of the Camino of Santiago, or Way of St. James, and built hospitals and lodging. Sancho Garces presents aromas of fresh fruit and liquorice. Soft tannins, very well-balanced and easy-drinking.

Just like the noble creature, The Stag wines represent elegance, grace and esteem. Quintessentially Victorian, they are made in a classic cool climate style. On the nose, a little rustic, with savoury spices, red berries, bright cherry and potpourri aromatics. Medium bodied and supple on the palate, with cherry, chocolate and tobacco notes. Tempranillo tannins have a powdery feel about them, leading to a savoury spice finish.

A great opportunity to try a Rose made from 100% hand-picked Tempranillo grapes from the heart of the Rioja Alta. The wine is fermented and aged for 5 months in French Oak Barrels, giving an exciting complexity and a nice body with unusual aromas that include red fruits like strawberry, raspberry, cherry and smoky notes as well as spices typical from French oak.In mouth it has a rich texture, it's rounded, with excellent acidity, structure and flavour leaving a long finish. All these qualities will improve with a period of bottle-ageing, so if you like saving your bottle for later, this is also your kind of wine.

Tempranillo blossoms in the Vale. Medium bodied style, approachable with attractive aromatics, dark cherries & spice, with hints of blackcurrant & blueberries and finishes with soft elegant tannins. Vegan friendly.McLaren Vale, “The Vale” is home to sustainable winegrowing in Australia with the highest number of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards in the country. David Paxton’s history of grape-growing in the Vale started in 1979 and today Paxton is a fully certified organic and biodynamic wine company who embrace sustainable practises in their vineyards and winery. Vale Organics honours McLaren Vale and the organic pioneers of this wonderfully innovative and sustainable wine growing region.

Deep cherry red, young and vibrant with bluish tones that denote its youth. Red and black fruit in the nose with resinous notes and hints of spice. Fruity and rounded with great balance on the palate.

The Reserva Tempranillo blend from iconic Riojan producer, Marqués de Riscal is made from fruit sourced from outstanding vineyard sites that are in excess of 15 years of age. This fruit is able to withstand the lengthy maturation process in oak due to the fine, complex tannin and acid structure. The resulting wine is classically savoury with notes of dark berries and toasty oak. The palate is long and rounded with interesting hint of spice.

Occupying some of the more elevated land in the Canberra District, Quarry Hill's climate is well-suited to produce one of the great red grapes of the world, tempranillo. Taking a cue from Spanish joven styles of young & fresh tempranillo, Quarry Hill's expression is fresh and bright-fruited, but guided in by the chewy skin tannin characteristic of the grape variety. The versatility of the wine means its not just for tapas or other Spanish foods, it also goes great with any grilled dishes or roast pork.

Flor de Pingus is produced by the visionary Danish winemaker Peter Sisseck. Truffle-tobacco nose with sour cherry and fruitnnut tree aromatics, theres gamey beast-hide, and a purple storm raining minerals. Fine and radiant, with cool blue fruits - powder-tannined, nutty-inky-and-mineral in the mouth, this Tempranillo is Ribera del Duero from on high.