This past April, experienced judges evaluated a total of 694 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2018 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 694 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 2018 medalists can be found at https://winemakermag.com/wp-content/uploads/18compresults.pdf
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 2018 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 2018 competition from among the 694 kit entries.
This kit list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2018 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 Selection Spéciale Riesling Icewine Style
2. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone
3. Mosti Mondiale Fresco Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
4. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Grenache Cabernet
5. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection
6. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru German Gewürztraminer
7. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel
8. Vintner’s Harvest Cherry
9. Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Blanc
10. Winexpert Selection Spéciale Chocolate Raspberry Dessert Wine
11. Alexander and Sons Muscat
12. Master Vintner France Jolie Sauvignon Blanc
13. RJS Craft Winemaking Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Carmenere
14. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine
15. Vineco Cellar Craft Sterling Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre
16. RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Tuscan Red
17. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Plum Passion
18. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italy Rosso Grande Eccellente
19. Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay
20. Vintner’s Harvest Raspberry
21. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry Rapture
22. Winexpert Aprés Chocolate Salted Caramel Dessert Wine
23. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select International Niagara Baco Noir
24. Winexpert World Vineyard Washington Riesling
25. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine
26. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Strawberry Sensation
27. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Pinot Grigio
28. Alexander and Sons Malvasia Bianca
29. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Spanish Valencia Milagro
30. Master Vintner Limited Edition Chardonnay
31. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Chardonnay
32. Winexpert Selection Spéciale Selection Port
33. RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winemaker’s Trio White
34. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Winemaker’s Trio Red
35. Winexpert Island Mist Green Apple Riesling
36. Winexpert Island Mist Blackberry Pinot Noir
37. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Brandy Cassis Dessert Wine
38. Alexander and Sons Gewürztraminer
39. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Valpola
40. Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate Zinfandel
41. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel Dessert Wine
42. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Cabernet Franc Dessert Style Wine
43. RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Series Niagara Chardonnay
44. Vineco Atmosphere Australian Chardonnay
45. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Germany Riesling Gewürztraminer
46. Mosti Mondiale Renaissance Castel Del Papa
47. Alexander and Sons Merlot
48. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vidal Ice Wine
49. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ French Chardonnay
50. Winexpert Selection Piesporter
51. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ French Sauvignon Blanc
52. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Amarone
53. Vineco Passport Series Kookaburra Red
54. RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Verdicchio
55. Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel
56. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Australian Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec
57. RJS Craft Winemaking Mivino Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
58. Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Dragon Fruit Shiraz
59. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rockin’ Raspberry
60. Winexpert Island Mist Exotic Fruit White Zinfandel
61. Winexpert Selection Spéciale White Chocolate Port
62. Winexpert Eclipse Dry Creek Chardonnay
63. Mosti Mondiale Mosto Fresco Amorosso
64. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Washington Yakima Valley Cabernet Franc
65. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ La Batalla
66. Winexpert Selection Limited Release Eclipse Bravado
67. Mosti Mondiale Fresco South African Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz
68. Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir
69. Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach Sangria
70. Winexpert Selection Spéciale Sherry
71. Mosti Mondiale Renaissance Italian Pinot Grigio
72. Winexpert Eclipse Mosel Valley Gewürztraminer
73. RJS Craft Winemaking Mivino Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
74. Mosti Mondiale Original All Juice Italian Trebbiano
75. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Sangiovese
76. Fontana Select Barolo
77. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Valpolicella Ripassa
78. Winexpert World Vineyard Australian Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre
79. Winexpert Selection California White Zinfandel
80. Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Bourgeron Rouge
81. Winexpert Selection California White Merlot
82. Mosti Mondiale All Juice Nero D’Avola
83. Winexpert Selection Spéciale Coffee Port Style
84. Winexpert Selection International Italian Montepulciano
85. Winexpert Eclipse Forza
86. Winexpert Selection International Australian Chardonnay
87. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series South African Sauvignon Blanc
88. Winexpert Eclipse Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
89. RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Müller-Thurgau
90. Winexpert Selection Luna Bianca
91. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Spanish Grenache Syrah
92. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Seville Orange Sangria
93. Vineco KenRidge Showcase South African Chenin Blanc
94. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select French Merlot
95. Winexpert Selection Spéciale Red Velvet Dessert Wine
96. Master Vintner Tropical Bliss Raspberry Merlot
97. Mosti Mondiale Bodega Port Style
98. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Tjungu
99. Winexpert World Vineyard German Müller-Thurgau
100. Winexpert Selection Limited Edition California Blanc De Noir
Top 100 Wine Kits by Varietal/Style
Note: Number in parentheses is the overall top 100 kit ranking
MERLOT
Alexander and Sons Merlot (47)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select French Merlot (94)
ZINFANDEL
Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (55)
OTHER RED VARIETALS
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select International Niagara Baco Noir (23)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Wash ington Yakima Valley Cabernet Franc (64)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Sangiovese (75)
Fontana Select Barolo (76)
Mosti Mondiale All Juice Nero D’Avola (82)
Winexpert Selection International Italian Montepulciano (84)
AMARONE-STYLE RED BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone (2)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Amarone (52)
SUPER TUSCAN-STYLE RED BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winery Series Tuscan Red (16)
Winexpert Selection Limited Release Eclipse Bravado (66)
OTHER RED VINIFERA BLENDS
Mosti Mondiale Fresco Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (3)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Grenache Cabernet (4)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel (7)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Carménere (13)
Vineco Cellar Craft Sterling Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre (15)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italy Rosso Grande Eccellente (18)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Spanish Valencia Milagro (29)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Winemaker’s Trio Red (34)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Valpola (39)
Mosti Mondiale Renaissance Castel Del Papa (46)
Vineco Passport Series Kookaburra Red (53)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Australian Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec (56)
RJS Craft Winemaking Mivino Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (57)
Mosti Mondiale Mosto Fresco Amorosso (63)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select RQ La Batalla (65)
Mosti Mondiale Fresco South African Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz (67)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Valpolicella Ripassa (77)
Winexpert World Vineyard Australian Grenache Syrah Mourvedre (78)
Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Bourgeron Rouge (80)
Winexpert Eclipse Forza (85)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Spanish Grenache Syrah (91)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Tjungu (98)
CHARDONNAY
Master Vintner Limited Edition Chardonnay (30)
RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Series Niagara Chardonnay (43)
Vineco Atmosphere Australian Chardonnay (44)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ French Chardonnay (49)
Winexpert Eclipse Dry Creek Chardonnay (62)
Winexpert Selection International Australian Chardonnay (86)
Winexpert Selection Luna Bianca (90)
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Master Vintner France Jolie Sauvignon Blanc (12)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ French Sauvignon Blanc (51)
RJS Craft Winemaking Mivino Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (73)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series South African Sauvignon Blanc (87)
Winexpert Eclipse Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (88)
PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Pinot Grigio (27)
Mosti Mondiale Renaissance Italian Pinot Grigio (71)
GEWÜRZTRAMINER
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select German Gewürztraminer (6)
Alexander and Sons Gewürztraminer (38)
Winexpert Eclipse Mosel Valley Gewürztraminer (72)
RIESLING
Winexpert World Vineyard Washington Riesling (24)
Winexpert Selection Piesporter (50)
MüLLER-THURGAU
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Müller-Thurgau (89)
Winexpert World Vineyard German Müller-Thurgau (99)
OTHER WHITE VARIETALS
Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Blanc (9)
Alexander and Sons Muscat (11)
Alexander and Sons Malvasia Bianca (28)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Verdicchio (54)
Mosti Mondiale Original All Juice Italian Trebbiano (74)
Vineco KenRidge Showcase South African Chenin Blanc (93)
WHITE VINIFERA BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking Cellar Classic Winemaker’s Trio White (33)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Germany Riesling Gewürztraminer (45)
ROSÉ/BLUSH
Winexpert Selection California White Zinfandel (79)
Winexpert Selection California White Merlot (81)
Winexpert Selection Limited Edition California Blanc De Noir (100)
LATE HARVEST & ICE WINE STYLE
Winexpert Selection Spéciale Riesling Icewine Style (1)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Cabernet Franc Dessert Style Wine (42)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vidal Ice Wine (48)
PORT & SHERRY STYLE
Winexpert Selection Spéciale Selection Port (32)
Winexpert Selection Spéciale Sherry (70)
Mosti Mondiale Bodega Port Style (97)
DESSERT STYLE
Winexpert Selection Spéciale Chocolate Raspberry Dessert Wine (10)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine (14)
Winexpert Aprés Chocolate Salted Caramel Dessert Wine (22)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine (25)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Brandy Cassis Dessert Wine (37)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel Dessert Wine (41)
Winexpert Selection Spéciale White Chocolate Port (61)
Winexpert Selection Spéciale Coffee Port Style (83)
Winexpert Selection Spéciale Red Velvet Dessert Wine (95)
GRAPE & NON-GRAPE BLENDS
Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay (19)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Chardonnay (31)
Winexpert Island Mist Green Apple Riesling (35)
Winexpert Island Mist Blackberry Pinot Noir (36)
Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate Zinfandel (40)
Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Dragon Fruit Shiraz (58)
Winexpert Island Mist Exotic Fruit White Zinfandel (60)
Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir (68)
Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach Sangria (69)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Seville Orange Sangria (92)
Master Vintner Tropical Bliss Raspberry Merlot (96)
NON-GRAPE COUNTRY FRUITS
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection (5)
Vintner’s Harvest Cherry (8)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Plum Passion (17)
Vintner’s Harvest Raspberry (20)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry Rapture (21)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Strawberry Sensation (26)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rockin’ Raspberry (59)
“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…
A lot of work goes into formulating a wine kit long before it goes to market. Learn how kits are developed, the contents of kits and the role each plays, and what separates one kit from another.
