Top 100 Wine Kits of 2025

This past April, experienced judges evaluated a total of 201 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2025 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition that had a grand total of 1,382 entries. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 201 wine kit entries were entered into over 30 different categories and represented a broad selection of varietals and blends from all major kit manufacturers.  Over the course of three days, wine judging panels examined all entries, both kit and non-kit, using the University of California-Davis 20-point wine scale giving their scores on appearance, aroma, taste, aftertaste, and overall impression. All judging was done blind meaning those evaluating each entry were given a pre-poured glass of wine with absolutely no identification attached except a tracking number. The judges had no idea whether the entry was made from a kit or fresh fruit. All the judges knew about each entry was the category entered. Entries were awarded gold, silver, bronze, and Best of Show medals based on the average score given by the judging panel. A full rundown of the 2025 medalists can be found at: www.winemakermag.com/competition/25compresults

We’ve found many WineMaker readers looking to purchase a wine kit refer back to each year’s competition results as a third-party list of specific wine kits that scored well in the blind judging and thus are capable of producing an award-winning wine. Eighteen years ago we decided to go one step further and put the spotlight on the top 100 scoring kits from the competition. What follows is the 2025 ranking based on the average scores given by judges of the top performing kit entries this year. By extending all the judging scores out to the furthest decimal point we were able to compile this ranked list of those kit entries that had the highest average scores in the 2025 competition.

This kit list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2025 that have shown the potential in a blind judging format to make excellent wines. We organized these top kits not only in numerical order, but also broken out into general wine style categories for easy reference. Cheers!

1 Winexpert Après Speciale Riesling Ice Wine Style
2 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine
3 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry
4 Winexpert Moscato Muscat Blanc
5 Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu
6 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection
7 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty White Chocolate
8 Winexpert Après Speciale Ruby Dessert
9 Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay
10 Winexpert Limited Edition Pinot Grigio Gewürztraminer
11 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vidal Style Dessert Wine
12 VineCo Niagara Mist Raspberry Dragonfruit
13 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel
14 Global Vintners Reserve Australian Grenache
15 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Malbec Bonarda Syrah
16 Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry
17 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select German Style Gewürztraminer
18 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Blackberry Blast
19 VineCo Passport Series Australian Pinot Noir Merlot Syrah
20 Winexpert Selection Sauvignon Blanc Rosé 
21 Winexpert Private Reserve Zinfandel
22 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Gingerbread Cookie
23 VineCo Niagara Mist Blackberry
24 Winexpert California Reserve Pinot Noir
25 Vintner’s Best Pineapple Pear
26 Winexpert Private Reserve Stag’s Leap Merlot
27 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Shiraz Mourvèdre
28 VineCo Niagara Mist Chocolate Cherry
29 Vintner’s Best Hazy Lemon
30 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone
31 VineCo Passport Chardonnay
32 Winexpert Après Speciale Cabernet Franc Ice Wine Style
33 VineCo Passport Merlot Cabernet Franc
34 Winexpert Reserve Malbec
35 Winexpert Eclipse Australian Barossa Valley Shiraz
36 Finer Wine Kits Super Tuscan
37 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre
38 Winexpert Reserve Montepulciano
39 RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel
40 Winexpert Australian Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre
41 Winexpert Private Reserve Colosso Sangiovese Primitivo Nerello 
42 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Orange Chocolate Dessert
43 VineCo Original Series Liebfraumilch Style
44 VineCo Passport Series Cabernet Sauvignon Zinfandel
45 Vintner’s Best Black Cherry
46 Winexpert Twisted Mist Tequila Sunrise
47 Winexpert Reserve Gewürztraminer
48 Winexpert Private Reserve Amarone
49 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Zinfandel
50 VineCo Sterling California Malbec Shiraz
51 Finer Wine Kits Merlot
52 Vintner’s Best Elderberry
53 Winexpert Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
54 Winexpert Private Reserve Pinot Gris
55 Winexpert Après Speciale Vanilla Bourbon Dessert
56 Winexpert Reserve Australian Traminer Riesling
57 Mosti Mondiale La Bodega Porto Sole
58 Master Vintner Malbec
59 Winexpert Private Reserve Bruno
60 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rockin’ Raspberry Rosé
61 VineCo Estate Series California Mystic
62 Winexpert Limited Edition Pinot Noir Shiraz
63 Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach 
64 Master Vintner Riesling
65 Winexpert Private Reserve Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
66 Finer Wine Kits Chardonnay
67 RJS Craft Winemaking Heritage Estate Shiraz
68 VineCo Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon
69 VineCo Signature Series Pinot Noir
70 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australian Cabernet Sauvignon
71 Winexpert Grenache Tannat Shiraz
72 Winexpert Viognier
73 Winexpert Classic Spanish Tempranillo
74 Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Piesporter
75 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International French Rosé
76 Winexpert Private Reserve Fumé Blanc
77 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Ontario Cabernet Franc
78 RJS Craft Winemaking Spangler Trio Zinfandel Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah
79 Winexpert Winery Series California Chardonnay
80 Winexpert Classic Sangiovese
81 Winexpert Classic California Gewürztraminer
82 Winexpert Reserve Pinot Noir Rosé
83 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Shiraz
84 RJS Craft Winemaking Viognier Riesling Chardonnay
85 Winexpert Limited Edition Tempranillo Shiraz
86 VineCo Estate Series Chilean Pinot Noir
87 Vintner’s Best Pomegranate Zinfandel
88 VineCo Original Series Viognier
89 Mosti Mondiale Fresco Amorosso
90 VineCo Original Series Spanish Tempranillo
91 VineCo Original Series Smooth Red
92 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Very Black Cherry
93 Finer Wine Kits Forte Zinfandel
94 Finer Wine Kits Cabernet Sauvignon
95 Winexpert Twisted Mist Strawberry Bellini
96 VineCo Original California Zinfandel
97 VineCo Original California Chardonnay
98 Winexpert Reserve Carménère
99 Mosti Mondiale Italian Grand Barile 
100 VineCo Original Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

Top 100 Wine Kits by Varietal/Wine Style 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Winexpert Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (53)
Winexpert Private Reserve Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (65)
VineCo Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon (68)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (70)
Finer Wine Kits Cabernet Sauvignon (94)
VineCo Original Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (100)

MALBEC
Winexpert Reserve Malbec (34)
Master Vintner Malbec (58)

MERLOT
Winexpert Private Reserve Stag’s Leap Merlot (26)
Finer Wine Kits Merlot (51)

PINOT NOIR
Winexpert California Reserve Pinot Noir (24)
VineCo Signature Series Pinot Noir (69)
VineCo Estate Series Chilean Pinot Noir (86)

SANGIOVESE
Winexpert Private Reserve Bruno (59)
Winexpert Classic Sangiovese (80)

SHIRAZ/SYRAH
Winexpert Eclipse Australian Barossa Valley Shiraz (35)
RJS Craft Winemaking Heritage Estate Shiraz (67)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Shiraz (83)

TEMPRANILLO
Winexpert Classic Spanish Tempranillo (73)
VineCo Original Series Spanish Tempranillo (90)

ZINFANDEL
Winexpert Private Reserve Zinfandel (21)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Zinfandel (49)
Finer Wine Kits Forte Zinfandel (93)
VineCo Original California Zinfandel (96)

OTHER RED VARIETALS
Global Vintners Reserve Australian Grenache (14)
Winexpert Reserve Montepulciano (38)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Ontario Cabernet Franc (77)
Winexpert Reserve Carménère (98)

RED BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Malbec Bonarda Syrah (15)
VineCo Passport Series Australian Pinot Noir Merlot Syrah (19)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Shiraz Mourvèdre (27)
VineCo Passport Merlot Cabernet Franc (33)
Finer Wine Kits Super Tuscan (36)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre (37)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel (39)
Winexpert Australian Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre (40)
Winexpert Private Reserve Colosso Sangiovese Primitivo Nerello (41)
VineCo Passport Series Cabernet Sauvignon Zinfandel (44)
VineCo Sterling California Malbec Shiraz (50)
VineCo Estate Series California Mystic (61)
Winexpert Limited Edition Pinot Noir Shiraz (62)
Winexpert Grenache Tannat Shiraz (71)
RJS Craft Winemaking Spangler Trio Zinfandel Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah (78)
Winexpert Limited Edition Tempranillo Shiraz (85)
Mosti Mondiale Fresco Amorosso (89)
VineCo Original Series Smooth Red (91)
Mosti Mondiale Italian Grand Barile (99)

AMARONE-STYLE BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone (30)
Winexpert Private Reserve Amarone (48)

CHARDONNAY
VineCo Passport Chardonnay (31)
Finer Wine Kits Chardonnay (66)
Winexpert Winery Series California Chardonnay (79)
VineCo Original California Chardonnay (97)

GEWÜRZTRAMINER
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select German Style Gewürztraminer (17)
Winexpert Reserve Gewürztraminer (47)
Winexpert Classic California Gewürztraminer (81)

OTHER WHITE VARIETALS
Winexpert Private Reserve Pinot Gris (54)
Master Vintner Riesling (64)
Winexpert Viognier (72)
Winexpert Private Reserve Fumé Blanc (76)
VineCo Original Series Viognier (88)

WHITE BLENDS
Winexpert Moscato Muscat Blanc (4)
Winexpert Limited Edition Pinot Grigio Gewürztraminer (10) 
VineCo Original Series Liebfraumilch Style (43)
Winexpert Reserve Australian Traminer Riesling (56)
Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Piesporter (74)
RJS Craft Winemaking Viognier Riesling Chardonnay (84)

BLUSH/ROSÉ
Winexpert Selection Sauvignon Blanc Rosé (20)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International French Rosé (75)
Winexpert Reserve Pinot Noir Rosé (82)

LATE HARVEST & ICE WINE STYLE
Winexpert Après Speciale Riesling Ice Wine Style (1)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vidal Style Dessert Wine (11)
Winexpert Après Speciale Cabernet Franc Ice Wine Style (32)

DESSERT STYLE
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine (2) 
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty White Chocolate (7)
Winexpert Après Speciale Ruby Dessert (8)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel (13)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Gingerbread Cookie (22)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Orange Chocolate Dessert (42)
Winexpert Après Speciale Vanilla Bourbon Dessert (55)
Mosti Mondiale La Bodega Porto Sole (57)

GRAPE & NON-GRAPE BLENDS
Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay (9)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rockin’ Raspberry Rosé (60)
Vintner’s Best Pomegranate Zinfandel (87)

NON-GRAPE COUNTRY WINES
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry (3)
Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu (5)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection (6)
VineCo Niagara Mist Raspberry Dragonfruit (12)
Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry (16)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Blackberry Blast (18)
VineCo Niagara Mist Blackberry (23)
Vintner’s Best Pineapple Pear (25)
VineCo Niagara Mist Chocolate Cherry (28)
Vintner’s Best Hazy Lemon (29)
Vintner’s Best Black Cherry (45)
Winexpert Twisted Mist Tequila Sunrise (46)
Vintner’s Best Elderberry (52)
Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach (63)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Very Black Cherry (92)
Winexpert Twisted Mist Strawberry Bellini (95)