This past April, 50 experienced judges evaluated a total of 1,110 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2016 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 1,110 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 about the entrant’s name or even 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 2016 medalists can be found at www.winemakermag.com/
competition/past-winners.
We’ve found many WineMaker readers looking to purchase a wine kit would 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. Ten 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 2016 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 2016 competition from among the 1,110 kit entries.
This kit list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2016 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!
Top 100 Wine Kits of 2016
1 Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay
2 Winexpert Island Mist Wildberry Shiraz
3 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Coffee Port
4 Winexpert Selection Speciale Cabernet Franc Ice Wine
5 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Australian Shiraz Viognier
6 VIneco Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone
7 RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel
8 Winexpert Selection Speciale Riesling Ice Wine
9 RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Muscat
10 Winexpert Eclipse Stags Leap Merlot
11 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Valpolicella
12 Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Salted Caramel Dessert Wine
13 Winexpert Limited Edition Mosel Valley German Riesling
14 Mosti Mondiale All Juice Master’s Edition Chilean Valle Del Sol
15 Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay
16 RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Amarone
17 Winexpert Selection German Müller-Thurgau
18 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Raspberry Mocha Port
19 Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
20 Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Raspberry Port
21 RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series South African Sauvignon Blanc
22 Winexpert Limited Edition Shiraz Viognier
23 RJ Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Chocolate Cherry Port
24 Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Amarone
25 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot
26 Winexpert Island Mist Cranberry Malbec
27 Vineco Niagara Mist Mango Strawberry Moscato
28 Winexpert Eclipse Barolo
29 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Apple Tatin Port
30 Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu Pinot Gris
31 Winexpert Selection Original Piesporter
32 Vineco Niagara Mist Chocolate Cherry Pinot Noir
33 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Strawberry Rhubarb
34 Winexpert Selection Luna Bianca
35 Vineco Cellar Craft Black Currant Ruby Port Style
36 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Winemaker’s Trio Red
37 Vineco Kenridge Showcase Australian Shiraz Grenache
38 Winexpert Selection Original Liebfraumilch
39 Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir
40 Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Rosso Fortissimo
41 Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Coastal Red
42 Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Rojo Grande
43 Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Ranch II Cabernet Sauvignon
44 RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Rosso Grande Eccellente
45 Winexpert World Vineyard French Cabernet Sauvignon
46 Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Ruby Cabernet
47 Winexpert Selection Speciale Blackberry Port
48 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select German Gewürztraminer
49 Winexpert Selection Speciale Okanagan Peach Ice Wine
50 Winexpert World Vineyard Moscato
51 Winexpert Eclipse New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
52 Winexpert Selection Enigma
53 RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Super Tuscan
54 Winexpert Vineyard Washington Riesling
55 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone
56 RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Riesling
57 RJS Craft Winemaking En En Primeur Winery Series Winemaker’s Trio White
58 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel Port
59 Winexpert Eclipse Limited Release Forza
60 Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Viognier
61 Winexpert Selection California Zinfandel
62 Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Mystic
63 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Monastrell Petit Verdot
64 Vineco Kenridge Showcase Chateau du Pays
65 Winexpert Island Mist Green Apple Riesling
66 Vineco Niagara Mist Strawberry White Zinfandel
67 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Grenache Syrah
68 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Orange Chocolate Port
69 Vineco Cellar Craft Specialty Washington Riesling Ice Wine
70 Vineco Legacy Gewürztraminer
71 Cellar Craft Specialty Cabernet Franc Ice Wine
72 Winexpert Island Mist Strawberry White Merlot
73 Vineco Passport Series Chile Volcanic Red
74 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australian Pinot Noir
75 Winexpert Limited Edition Pacific Quartet
76 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Italian Sangiovese
77 Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate Zinfandel
78 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Gewürztraminer
79 Fontana Fruit Peach Chardonnay
80 Winexpert Selection Chilean Malbec Shiraz
81 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Monastrell Tempranillo
82 Mosti Mondiale Original Alljuice Caberlot
83 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Italian Valpolicella
84 Winexpert Eclipse Barossa Valley Shiraz
85 Winexpert Eclipse Washington Columbia Valley Riesling
86 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rocking Raspberry Rosé
87 Winexpert Limited Edition Triumph
88 Wine Kitz Ultimate Estate Reserve Sangiovese
89 Vineco Legacy Primo Rosso
90 Winexpert Limited Edition Italian Super Tuscan
91 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Nebbiolo
92 Vintner’s Cellar Fresh Must Chilean Carmenere
93 RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Italian Zinfandel
94 Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau Du Pays
95 Winexpert World Vineyard Pink Moscato
96 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Chile Pinot Noir Rosé
97 Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase South African Shiraz
98 Mosti Mondiale Original Alljuice Nero D’Avola
99 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Italy Aglianico
100 Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Top 100 Wine Kits by Wine Style/Varietal
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon (19)
Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Ranch II Cabernet Sauvignon (43)
Winexpert World Vineyard French Cabernet Sauvignon (45)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (100)
SANGIOVESE
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Italian Sangiovese (76)
Wine Kitz Ultimate Estate Reserve Sangiovese (88)
MERLOT
Winexpert Eclipse Stags Leap Merlot (10)
NEBBIOLO
Winexpert Eclipse Barolo (28)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Nebbiolo (91)
PINOT NOIR
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australian Pinot Noir (74)
RJS Craft Winemaking Chilean Pinot Noir (96)
SYRAH/SHIRAZ
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Australian Shiraz Viognier (5)
Winexpert Limited Edition Shiraz Viognier (22)
Winexpert Eclipse Barossa Valley Shiraz (84)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase South African Shiraz (97)
ZINFANDEL
Winexpert Selection California Zinfandel (61)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Italian Zinfandel (93)
OTHER RED VINIFERA VARIETALS
Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Ruby Cabernet (46)
Vintner’s Cellar Fresh Must Chilean Carmenere (92)
Mosti Mondiale Original All Juice Nero D’Avola (98)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Italy Aglianico (99)
AMARONE-STYLE BLENDS
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone (6)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Amarone (16)
Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Amarone (24)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone (55)
SUPER TUSCAN-STYLE RED BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Super Tuscan (53)
Winexpert Limited Edition Italian Super Tuscan (90)
OTHER RED VINIFERA BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel (7)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Valpolicella (11)
Mosti Mondiale All Juice Master’s Edition Chilean Valle Del Sol (14)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot (25)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Winemaker’s Trio Red (36)
Vineco Kenridge Showcase Australian Shiraz Grenache (37)
Cellar Craft Showcase Rosso Fortissimo (40)
Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Coastal Red (41)
Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Rojo Grande (42)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Rosso Grande Eccellente (44)
Winexpert Selection Enigma (52)
Winexpert Eclipse Limited Release Forza (59)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Mystic (62)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Monastrell Petit Verdot (63)
Vineco Kenridge Showcase Chateau du Pays (64)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Grenache Syrah (67)
Vineco Passport Series Chile Volcanic Red (73)
Winexpert Selection Chilean Malbec Shiraz (80)\
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Monastrell Tempranillo (81)
Mosti Mondiale Original Alljuice Caberlot (82)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Italian Valpolicella (83)
Winexpert Limited Edition Triumph (87)
Vineco Legacy Primo Rosso (89)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau Du Pays (94)
CHARDONNAY
Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay (15)
SAUVIGNON BLANC
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series South African Sauvignon Blanc (21)
Winexpert Eclipse New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (51)
Gewürztraminer
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select German Gewürztraminer (48)
Vineco Legacy Gewürztraminer (70)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Gewürztraminer (78)
RIESLING
Winexpert Limited Edition Mosel Valley German Riesling (13)
Winexpert Selection Original Piesporter (31)
Winexpert Vineyard Washington Riesling (54)
RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Riesling (56)
Winexpert Eclipse Washington Columbia Valley Riesling (85)
OTHER WHITE VINIFERA VARIETALS
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Muscat (9)
Winexpert Selection German Müller-Thurgau (17)
Winexpert World Vineyard Moscato (50)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Viognier (60)
WHITE VINIFERA BLENDS
Winexpert Selection Luna Bianca (34)
Winexpert Selection Original Liebfraumilch (38)
RJS Craft Winemaking En En Primeur Winery Series Winemaker’s Trio White (57)
Winexpert Limited Edition Pacific Quartet (75)
ROSE/BLUSH
Winexpert World Vineyard Pink Moscato (95)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Chile Pinot Noir Rosé (96)
LATE HARVEST & ICE WINE STYLE
Winexpert Selection Speciale Cabernet Franc Ice Wine (4)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Riesling Ice Wine (8)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Okanagan Peach Ice Wine (49)
Vineco Cellar Craft Specialty Washington Riesling Ice Wine (69)
Vineco Cellar Craft Specialty Cabernet Franc Ice Wine (71)
PORT & DESSERT STYLE
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Coffee Port (3)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Salted Caramel Dessert Wine (12)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Raspberry Mocha Port (18)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Raspberry Port (20)
RJ Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Chocolate Cherry Port (23)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Apple Tatin Port (29)
Vineco Cellar Craft Black Currant Ruby Port Style (35)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Blackberry Port (47)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel Port (58)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Orange Chocolate Port (68)
GRAPE & NON-GRAPE BLENDS
Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay
Winexpert Island Mist Wildberry Shiraz (2)
Winexpert Island Mist Cranberry Malbec (26)
Vineco Niagara Mist Mango Strawberry Moscato (27)
Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu Pinot Gris (30)
Vineco Niagara Mist Chocolate Cherry Pinot Noir (32)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Strawberry Rhubarb (33)
Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir (39)
Winexpert Island Mist Green Apple Riesling (65)
Vineco Niagara Mist Strawberry White ZinfandeL (66)
Winexpert Island Mist Strawberry White Merlot (72)
Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate Zinfandel (77)
Fontana Fruit Peach Chardonnay (79)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rocking Raspberry Rosé (86)
“A letter is an unannounced visit, the postman the agent of rude surprises. One ought to reserve an hour a week for receiving letters and afterwards take a bath.” -Friedrich Nietzsche Man, that Nietzsche was a grumpy Gus. I happen to love getting letters. Oh we get letters here at the “Wine Kits” column. We get questions, comments and requests for clarification, and sometimes we are even able to answer them! The…
One of the best things about wine kits is that they are relatively easy to make into great tasting wine if you just follow the directions. However, once you’ve mastered that skill, you may be tempted to tweak the instructions or ingredients to customize your wine more to your liking.
