This past April, 50 experienced judges evaluated a total of 1,224 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2015 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 1,224 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.
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. Nine 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 2015 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 2015 competition from among the 1,224 kit entries.
This kit list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2015 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 for 2015
1.RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Cru Select Spanish Monastrell Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon
2.Winexpert Selection Speciale Cabernet Franc Ice Wine
3.Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Washington Meritage
4.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Sauvignon Blanc
5.Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Liebfraumilch
6.Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Pacific Quartet
7.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Port
8.Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay
9.Vineco Niagara Mist Orchard Crisp Riesling
10.RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Amarone
11.Vineco KenRidge Showcase New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
12.Cellar Craft Showcase Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz
13.Winexpert Selection Limited Edition California Petite Sirah Zinfandel
14.Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone
15.RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Coconut Lime
16.RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International California Muscat
17.Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate Zinfandel
18.RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Specialty Riesling Ice Wine
19.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Super Tuscan
20.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Apple Tatin White Port Style
21.Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Raspberry Port
22.Mosti Mondiale Cabernet Sauvignon
23.RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Cru Select Cabernet Sauvignon
24.Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Orange Port
25.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Chilean Chardonnay
26.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Coffee Port
27.Winexpert Island Mist Peach Raspberry
28.Winexpert Selection Piesporter
29.Cellar Craft Showcase Late Harvest Riesling
30.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Grenache Syrah
31.Wine Kitz Specialty Series Cabernet Franc Ice Wine
32.Cellar Craft Showcase Collection Traisenta Austria Zweigelt
33.Winexpert World Vineyard California Muscato
34.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Carménère
35.Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Barolo
36.RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Apple Pomegranate
37.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Hang Ten Muscat Chardonnay
38.Winexpert Island Mist Merlot Ho Ho
39.Winexpert Selection Speciale Blackberry Port
40.Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Traminer Spatlese
41.Cellar Craft Showcase Grand Red
42.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Bella Blanco
43.Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Viognier
44.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Super Tuscan
45.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Rosso Grande Eccellente
46.Winexpert Selection Original White Merlot
47.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel Port
48.Winexpert Selection Original Series Luna Bianca
49.RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Banana Pineapple Paradise
50.Wine Kitz Sommelier Mystic Red
51.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Cru Select Valpolicella Ripassa
52.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Orange Chocolate Port
53.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Pinot Grigio
54.RJS Craft Winemaking Sémillon Sauvignon Blanc
55.Winexpert Selection German Müller-Thurgau
56.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Down Under Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot
57.Winexpert Selection Speciale Port Style
58.Winexpert Selection Speciale Riesling Ice Wine
59.Winexpert Island Mist Strawberry Watermelon White Shiraz
60.Vineco Cheeky Monkey Pinot Grigio
61.Cellar Craft Showcase Chilean Carménère
62.RJS Craft Winemaking Germany Riesling Gewürztraminer
63.RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Australian Cabernet Sauvignon
64.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Pinot Noir
65.Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir
66.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Trio Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel
67.Winexpert Eclipse Stag’s Leap District Merlot
68.RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur New Zealand Pinot Noir
69.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Master Zinfandel
70.Cellar Craft Showcase Viognier
71.Vineco KenRidge Showcase Italian Pinot Grigio
72.Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau Du Pays
73.Wine Kitz Specialty Series Orange Chocolate Port
74.Vineco KenRidge Showcase Collection Tempranillo Granacha
75.Vineco KenRidge Showcase Amarone
76.Winexpert Eclipse Barossa Valley Shiraz
77.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Chilean Syrah
78.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Cabernet Franc Ice Wine
79.RJS Craft Winemaking Top Hat Cabernet Sauvignon
80.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel
81.RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Monastrell Petit Verdot
82.RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Chilean Merlot
83.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Pinot Grigio
84.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Chilean Carménère
85.RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series South African Sauvignon Blanc
86.RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur California Cabernet Sauvignon
87.RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Classic Port Style
88.RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Super Tuscan
89.RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Syrah
90.Winexpert Selection International Italian Montepulciano
91.Winexpert Eclipse Sauvignon Blanc
92.Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Ranch 11 Cabernet Sauvignon
93.Cellar Craft Showcase Limited Edition Red Mountain Trio
94.Winexpert Eclipse Barolo
95.RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Cabernet Franc
96.RJS Craft Winemaking Australian Meritage
97.RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Australian Sémillon Sauvignon Blanc
98.Winexpert Limited Edition Oregon Pinot Noir
99.Mosti Mondiale La Bodega Port
100.Cellar Craft Showcase Grüner Veltliner
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Mosti Mondiale Cabernet Sauvignon (22)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Cru Select Cabernet Sauvignon (23)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (63)
RJS Craft Winemaking Top Hat Cabernet Sauvignon (79)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur California CabernetSauvignon (86)
Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Ranch 11 Cabernet Sauvignon (92)
CARMÉNÈRE
Cellar Craft Showcase Chilean Carménère (61)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Chilean Carménère (84)
MERLOT
Winexpert Eclipse Stag’s Leap District Merlot (67)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Chilean Merlot (82)
NEBBIOLO
Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Barolo (35)
Winexpert Eclipse Barolo (94)
PINOT NOIR
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Pinot Noir (64)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur New Zealand Pinot Noir (68)
Winexpert Limited Edition Oregon Pinot Noir (98)
SYRAH/SHIRAZ
Winexpert Eclipse Barossa Valley Shiraz (76)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Chilean Syrah (77)
RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Syrah (89)
ZINFANDEL
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Master Zinfandel (69)
OTHER RED VINIFERA VARIETALS
Cellar Craft Showcase Collection Traisenta Austria Zweigelt (32)
Winexpert Selection International Italian Montepulciano (90)
RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Cabernet Franc (95)
AMARONE-STYLE RED BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Amarone (10)
Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone (14)
Vineco KenRidge Showcase Amarone (75)
SUPER TUSCAN-STYLE RED BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Super Tuscan (19)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Super Tuscan (44)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Super Tuscan (88)
OTHER RED VINIFERA BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Cru Select Spanish Monastrell Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon (1)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Washington Meritage (3)
Cellar Craft Showcase Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz (12)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition California Petite Sirah Zinfandel (13)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Grenache Syrah (30)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Carménère (34)
Cellar Craft Showcase Grand Red (41)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Rosso Grande Eccellente (45)
Wine Kitz Sommelier Mystic Red (50)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Cru Select Valpolicella Ripassa (51)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Down Under Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot (56)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Trio Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel (66)
Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau Du Pays (72)
Vineco KenRidge Showcase Collection Tempranillo Granacha (74)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel (80)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Monastrell Petit Verdot (81)
Cellar Craft Showcase Limited Edition Red Mountain Trio (93)
RJS Craft Winemaking Australian Meritage (96)
CHARDONNAY
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Chilean Chardonnay (25)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Hang Ten Muscat Chardonnay (37)
SAUVIGNON BLANC
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Sauvignon Blanc (4)
Vineco KenRidge Showcase New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (11)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series South African Sauvignon Blanc (85)
Winexpert Eclipse Sauvignon Blanc (91)
PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Pinot Grigio (53)
Vineco Cheeky Monkey Pinot Grigio (60)
Vineco KenRidge Showcase Italian Pinot Grigio (71)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Pinot Grigio (83)
RIESLING
Winexpert Selection Piesporter (28)
VIOGNIER
Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Viognier (43)
Cellar Craft Showcase Viognier (70)
OTHER WHITE VINIFERA VARIETALS
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International California Muscat (16)
Winexpert World Vineyard California Muscato (33)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Traminer Spatlese (40)
Winexpert Selection German Müller-Thurgau (55)
Cellar Craft Showcase Grüner Veltliner (100)
WHITE VINIFERA BLENDS
Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Liebfraumilch (5)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Pacific Quartet (6)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Bella Blanco (42)
Winexpert Selection Original Series Luna Bianca (48)
RJS Craft Winemaking Sémillon Sauvignon Blanc (54)
RJS Craft Winemaking Germany Riesling Gewürztraminer (62)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Australian Sémillon Sauvignon Blanc (97)
ROSÉ/BLUSH
Winexpert Selection Original White Merlot (46)
LATE HARVEST & ICE WINE STYLE
Winexpert Selection Speciale Cabernet Franc Ice Wine (2)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Specialty Riesling Ice Wine (18)
Cellar Craft Showcase Late Harvest Riesling (29)
Wine Kitz Specialty Series Cabernet Franc Ice Wine (31)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Riesling Ice Wine (58)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Specialty Cabernet Franc Ice Wine (78)
PORT STYLE
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Port (7)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Apple Tatin White Port Style (20)
Winexpert Selection Speciale
Chocolate Raspberry Port (21)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Orange Port (24)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Coffee Port (26)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Blackberry Port (39)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel Port (47)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Orange Chocolate Port (52)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Port Style (57)
Wine Kitz Specialty Series Orange Chocolate Port (73)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Classic Port Style (87)
Mosti Mondiale La Bodega Port (99)
GRAPE & NON-GRAPE BLENDS
Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay (8)
Vineco Niagara Mist Orchard Crisp Riesling (9)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Coconut Lime (15)
Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate Zinfandel (17)
Winexpert Island Mist Peach Raspberry (27)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Apple Pomegranate (36)
Winexpert Island Mist Merlot Ho Ho (38)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Banana Pineapple Paradise (49)
Winexpert Island Mist Strawberry Watermelon White Shiraz (59)
Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir (65)
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American wine consumers tend to believe if a white wine has been bottled then it is ready to drink. But not all white wines are meant to only be enjoyed young. Let us introduce you to Sémillon.
