Top 100 Wine Kits for 2017

This past April, experienced judges evaluated a total of 986 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2017 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 986 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 2017 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. Eleven 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 2017 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 2017 competition from among the 986 kit entries.

This kit list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2017 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. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Riesling Ice Wine

2. Winexpert Selection Speciale Cabernet Franc Ice Wine

3. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay

4. Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu Pinot Grigio

5. Vintner’s Harvest Apricot

6. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rocking Raspberry Rosé

7. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry Rapture

8. RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Super Tuscan

9. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine

10. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Italian Barbera

11. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine

12. Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Riesling

13. RJS Craft Winemaking Coffee Toasted Caramel Dessert Wine

14. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Cranapple Chardonnay

15. Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Negroamaro

16. Winexpert Red Velvet Dessert Wine

17. Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate Zinfandel

18. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Super Tuscan

19. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series German Riesling Gewürztraminer

20. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection

21. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Chilean Pinot Noir Rosé

22. Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Port

23. Winexpert Selection Piesporter

24. Vintner’s Harvest Cherry

25. Mosti Mondiale Fresco Juice Italian  Amorosso

26. RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Muscat

27. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Vanilla Fig Port

28. Vineco Legacy Piesporter

29. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Chocolate Raspberry Port

30. Winexpert Selection Speciale Riesling  Ice Wine

31. Winexpert Island Mist Strawberry Watermelon Shiraz

32. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Orange Chocolate Port

33. Vintner’s Best Blackberry

34. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select German Gewürztraminer

35. RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic  Winery Series Rosso Grande

36. Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Merlot

37. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Zinfandel

38. RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Rosé

39. Vineco Cellar Craft Specialty Porto  Contino

40. Vintner’s Best Raspberry

41.  Winexpert Selection Limited Edition  Mosaic Red

42. RJS Craft Winemaking Chocolate  Cherry Port

43. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Winemaker’s Trio White

44. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Australian Gewürztraminer Verdelho Muscat

45. Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone

46. Vineco Atmosphere Chardonnay

47. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard  Breezin’ Citrus Sunshine

48. Vineco Cellar Craft Sterling Grenache  Syrah Mourvedre

49. Mosti Mondiale Renaissance Old Vine  Merlot

50. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ  Australian Cabernet Sauvignon

51. Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Spanish Diablo Rojo

52. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ  Australian Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon  Malbec

53. Winexpert Speciale Peppermint Mocha  Dessert Wine

54. Vineco Niagara Mist Raspberry Dragonfruit

55. Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve  Chardonnay

56. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select New  Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

57. Winexpert Island Mist Cranberry Malbec

58. Vintner’s Best Peach

59. Winexpert World Collection Vineyard  California Muscato

60. RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic  Winery Series Spanish Grenache Syrah

61.  RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic  Winery Series Amarone

62. Vineco Niagara Mist Pineapple Coconut

63. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ  Spanish Tempranillo Grenache Cabernet Sauvignon

64. Vineco Cellar Craft South African Shiraz

65. Winexpert Chocolate Orange Port

66. RJS Craft Winemaking Coffee Port

67. Fontana Blackberry

68. Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Carmenere

69. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition  Pacific Quartet

70. Winexpert Mosel Valley Riesling

71.  Winexpert Island Mist Kiwi Pear Sauvignon Blanc

72. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Italian Valpola Ripassa

73. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Valpolicella

74. Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau  Du Pays

75. Winexpert Eclipse Stags Leap Merlot

76. Winexpert Raspberry White Zinfandel

77. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

78. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Rosso Grande Eccellente

79. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Amarone

80. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur  Winery Series Shiraz

81.  RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Chardonnay

82. Winexpert Island Mist White Cranberry  Pinot Gris

83. Winexpert Eclipse Washington Yakima  Valley Pinot Gris

84. Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Shiraz

85. Winexpert Eclipse Bravado

86. Vineco Cellar Craft Specialty Riesling  Ice Wine

87. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ  La Batalla

88. Winexpert Eclipse Barolo

89. Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet  Sauvignon

90. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition  Portuguese Aragones Cabernet Sauvignon

91. Winexpert Eclipse California Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel

92. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition  Gewürztraminer

93. Winexpert Speciale Apera Sherry Style

94. Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve  Pinot Grigio

95. Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Merlot

96. Vineco Atmosphere Chilean Cabernet  Sauvignon Malbec Carmenere

97. Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Caramel Dessert Wine

98. RJS Craft Winemaking Spanish Monestrell Petit Verdot

99. Winexpert Selection International  Australian Shiraz Viognier

100. Winexpert Selection Blackberry Dessert Wine

Top 100 Wine Kits By Varietal

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ
Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (50)
Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (89)

MERLOT

Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Merlot (36)
Mosti Mondiale Renaissance
Old Vine Merlot (49)
Winexpert Eclipse Stags Leap Merlot (75)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Merlot (95)

SYRAH/SHIRAZ

Vineco Cellar Craft South African Shiraz (64)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Shiraz (80)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Shiraz (84)
Winexpert Selection International
Australian Shiraz Viognier (99)

ZINFANDEL

RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Zinfandel (37)
Winexpert Eclipse California Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (91)

OTHER RED VINIFERA VARIETALS

Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Italian Barbera (10)
Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Negroamaro (15)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Carmenere (68)

AMARONE-STYLE RED BLENDS

Mosti Mondiale Fresco Juice Italian Amorosso (25)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone (45)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Amarone (61)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Amarone (79)

SUPER TUSCAN-STYLE RED BLENDS

RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Super Tuscan (8)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Super Tuscan (18)
Winexpert Eclipse Bravado (85)

OTHER RED VINIFERA BLENDS

RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Rosso Grande (35)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Mosaic Red (41)
Vineco Cellar Craft Sterling Grenache Syrah Mourvedre (48)
Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Spanish Diablo Rojo (51)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ Australian Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec (52)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Spanish Grenache Syrah (60)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ Spanish Tempranillo Grenache Cabernet Sauvignon (63)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Italian Valpola Ripassa (72)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Valpolicella (73)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau Du Pays (74)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (77)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Rosso Grande Eccellente (78)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ La Batalla (87)
Winexpert Eclipse Barolo (88)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Portuguese Aragones Cabernet Sauvignon (90)
Vineco Atmosphere Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Carmenere (96)

RJS Craft Winemaking Spanish

Monestrell Petit Verdot (98)

CHARDONNAY

Vineco Atmosphere Chardonnay (46)
Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay (55)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Chardonnay (81)

SAUVIGNON BLANC

RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (56)

PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS

Winexpert Eclipse Washington Yakima Valley Pinot Gris (83)
Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Grigio (94)

GEWÜRZTRAMINER

RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select German Gewürztraminer (34)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Gewürztraminer (92)

RIESLING

Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Riesling (12)
Winexpert Selection Piesporter (23)
Vineco Legacy Piesporter (28)
Winexpert Mosel Valley Riesling (70)

OTHER WHITE VINIFERA VARIETALS

RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Muscat (26)
Winexpert World Collection Vineyard California Muscato (59)

WHITE VINIFERA BLENDS

RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series German Riesling Gewürztraminer (19)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Winemaker’s Trio White (43)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Australian Gewürztraminer Verdelho Muscat (44)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Pacific Quartet (69)

ROSÉ/BLUSH

RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Chilean Pinot Noir Rosé (21)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Rosé (38)

LATE HARVEST & ICE WINE STYLE

RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Riesling Ice Wine (1)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Cabernet Franc Ice Wine (2)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Riesling Ice Wine (30)
Vineco Cellar Craft Specialty Riesling Ice Wine (86)

PORT & SHERRY STYLE

Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Port (22)
Vineco Cellar Craft Specialty Porto Contino (39)
Winexpert Speciale Apera Sherry Style (93)

DESSERT STYLE

RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine (9)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine (11)
RJS Craft Winemaking Coffee Toasted Caramel Dessert Wine (13)
Winexpert Speciale Red Velvet Dessert Wine (16)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Vanilla Fig Port (27)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Chocolate Raspberry Port (29)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Orange Chocolate Port (32)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Chocolate Cherry Port (42)
Winexpert Speciale Peppermint Mocha Dessert Wine (53)
Winexpert Speciale Chocolate Orange Port (65)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Coffee Port (66)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Caramel Dessert Wine (97)

GRAPE & NON-GRAPE BLENDS

RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay (3)
Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu Pinot Grigio (4)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rocking Raspberry Rose’ (6)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Cranapple Chardonnay (14)
Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate Zinfandel (17)
Winexpert Island Mist Strawberry Watermelon Shiraz (31)
Winexpert Island Mist Cranberry Malbec (57)
Winexpert Island Mist Kiwi Pear Sauvignon Blanc (71)
Winexpert Raspberry White Zinfandel (76)
Winexpert Island Mist White Cranberry Pinot Gris (82)

NON-GRAPE COUNTRY FRUITS

Vintner’s Harvest Apricot (5)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry Rapture (7)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection (20)
Vintner’s Harvest Cherry (24)
Vintner’s Best Blackberry (33)
Vintner’s Best Raspberry (40)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Citrus Sunshine (47)
Vineco Niagara Mist Raspberry Dragonfruit (54)
Vintner’s Best Peach (58)
Vineco Niagara Mist Pineapple Coconut (62)
Fontana Blackberry (67)
Winexpert Selection Blackberry Dessert Wine (100)