In 1991, Tahbilk husband and wife team of winemaker Alister Purbrick and artist Rosa Dal Farra decided to combine their talents to produce a range of alternative varietal wines showcased under Rosas boldest art works. Now widely known and made, these varieties validate the foresight Tahbilk had.

Created by wine specialists from eleven different countries, this innovative brand aims to bring together the worlds best drops under a single, distinctive, quality mark - the woolly red sweater of Tussock Jumper. This Tempranillo has the aroma of black wild fruit like blackberry and mulberry. The palate is soft, silky and well balanced with a full lingering finish. best served at room temperature and your favourite pizza.

The savoury and smooth Tempranillo is complimented by thespicy fruit and structure of Graciano. The resultant wine has greater intensity, depth and length.

An authentic style of Tempranillo with well resolved tannins and great length of flavour. Some new American oak maturation has imparted a rich toasty vanillin oak note to balance the spicy cherry fruit and earthy flavours of the variety.

Altos R, a boutique winery in the heart of the best terroir in Rioja, achieve an excellent balance of traditional vineyard methods combined with the latest developments in technology, allowing them to create a great range of unique modern wines. Their Crianza style (aged for at least two years) Tempranillo offers a powerful and complex nose, with notes of fresh fruits, spices, balsamic and toasted oak all perfectly integrated. The palate is structured, round, and balanced, making it an ideal companion to red meats or an assortment of cheeses.

Some blends may not seem obvious, like Shiraz & Tempranillo - but they just work. With a mix of cherry & blueberry flavours, good oak & a savoury end these Sit Stay Society Tempranillo 375mL bottles will leave you wanting more.

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.

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.

Marqués de Riscal Próximo is a new addition to the Marqués range and is a bright and fruit driven Rioja style sourced from slightly younger Tempranillo vines. Very strict parcel selection along with traditional picking techniques, this Rioja is bursting with dark blackberry fruit with notes of rich, ripe plums. Hints of liquorice and star anise also give the wine a superb backbone that is perfectly suited many Mediterranean cuisines.