There were two Curious Wines listed in this years New Wave Spanish Wine Awards, a competition that highlights some real finds from Spain available on the market today. These wines have already excelled with other awards this year, adding further proof of their brilliance. Both were issued awards after breaking into the top 119 in the competition.

El Tesoro Monastrell Shiraz 2008

El Tesoro, meaning ‘the treasure’ in Spanish, is from the Jumilla region in the province of Murcia, which is notable for its superb Monastrell.

Bodegas Juan Gil, with plenty of wine-growing history in the harsh climate of the Jumilla, use some of their Monastrell and Syrah fruit from vineyards on the slopes of the Penarubia mountain. These grapes, from 20 to 30 year old vines, produce wines with plenty of fruit and character.

The 2008 vintage also clinched Silver at the 2010 Sommelier Wine Awards. Here’s what the judges had to say:

“A rich wine with a smoky nose, good length and well-balanced, controlled tannins. ‘This would be amazing with a barbecue’ suggested Luigi Buonanno”.

Fernando de Castilla Classic Manzanilla

One of the most exceptional of the small, independent sherry houses, Fernando de Castilla was revitalised in 1999 by Jan Pettersen, a Norwegian gone native with a passion for top quality sherry with 15 years experience at Osborne. After taking over the cellars of the Sherry shipper Jose Bustamante, located next door to the main facilities of Fernando de Castilla, Jan quickly established Fernando de Castilla as masters of the production and ageing of fine, unblended, untreated Sherries.

This non-vintage also won bronze and silver at the International Wine Challenge in 2010 and 2009 respectively.