fbpx
Article

Top 100 Wine Kits of 2016

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)