Top 100 Wine Kits of 2020

This past August, experienced judges evaluated a total of 767 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2020 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition that had a grand total of 2,519 entries. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 767 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 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 2020 medalists can be found at https://winemakermag.com/competition/20compresults

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. Thirteen 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 2020 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 2020 competition from among the 767 kit entries.

This kit list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2020 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 Kits

1. Vintner’s Best Peach
2. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Pomme Tatin 
3. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Crème Brûlée
4. Winexpert Après Late Harvest Riesling
5. Winexpert Island Mist Strawberry Watermelon Shiraz
6. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vanilla Fig
7. Winexpert Après Peach Icewine
8. Winexpert Après Chocolate Salted Caramel
9. Winexpert Selection Spéciale Peppermint Mocha
10. Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Sterile Juice Merlot
11. Winexpert Limited Edition New Zealand Fumé Blanc
12. Winexpert Selection Spéciale Riesling Icewine Style
13. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel
14. RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Pinot Noir
15. Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay
16. Winexpert World Vineyard California Moscato 
17. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ White Sangria
18. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Tropical Lime
19. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Spanish Grenache Syrah
20. Winexpert Eclipse Zinfandel Cabernet Sauvignon
21. Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Nebbiolo
22. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection
23. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Washington Merlot
24. Mosti Mondiale Vinifera Noble Chardonnay
25. Vintner’s Best Mango
26. Mosti Mondiale AllJuice Master’s Edition Australian Chardonnay
27. Winexpert Après Chocolate Raspberry
28. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Chile Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah
29. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spain Tempranillo
30. Winexpert Après Blackberry Dessert Wine
31. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Riesling Dessert Wine
32. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Australia Chardonnay Sémillon
33. Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach Sangria
34. Winexpert Limited Edition New Zealand Pinot Noir
35. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Coffee
36. Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Washington Pinot Gris
37. Winexpert Eclipse Sonoma Valley California Pinot Noir
38. Vineco Atmosphere New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
39. Winexpert Selection International Italian Pinot Grigio
40. Brewer’s Best Cider House Select Pineapple
41. Mosti Mondiale La Bodega Port Style
42. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone Style
43. Winexpert Island Mist Pineapple Pear Pinot Grigio
44. Winexpert Eclipse Italian Piedmont Nebbiolo
45. Winexpert Après Cabernet Franc Icewine Style
46. Winexpert Island Mist Blueberry Pinot Noir
47. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australian Pinot Noir
48. Winexpert World Vineyard California Pinot Noir
49. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select International Niagara Baco Noir
50. Winexpert Selection Pacifica White
51. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australia Cabernet Sauvignon
52. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italy Rosso Grande Excellente
53. Winexpert Island Mist White Cranberry Pinot Gris
54. Master Vintner Tropical Bliss Raspberry Merlot
55. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Raspberry Mocha
56. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australia Shiraz
57. Winexpert Eclipse Napa Valley Stags Leap District Merlot
58. Winexpert Limited Edition Spain Milagro Blanco
59. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Chile Carménère
60. Winexpert Selection California Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
61. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ French Cabernet Sauvignon
62. Winexpert World Vineyard Italian Pinot Grigio
63. Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Amorosso
64. Vineco Atmosphere Italy Sangiovese
65. Winexpert Selection Italian Montepulciano
66. Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Sterile Juice Bergamais
67. Vineco Atmosphere Australian Chardonnay
68. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Okanagan Meritage
69. Winexpert Limited Edition Italian Barbaresco
70. Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Ranch 11 Cabernet Sauvignon
71. Winexpert Après Dessert Port
72. Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Blanc
73. Mosti Mondiale Vinifera Noble Cabernet Franc
74. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select California Cabernet Syrah Zinfandel
75. Winexpert Island Mist Cucumber Melon Sauvignon Blanc
76. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Bourbon Barrel White Blend
77. Winexpert Selection California Sauvignon Blanc
78. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select California Pinot Noir
79. Vineco Passport Series California Grand Red
80. Vineco Atmosphere Merlot Syrah Viognier Red
81. Winexpert Private Reserve Italian Piedmont Nebbiolo
82. Vintner’s Best Blood Orange
83. Winexpert Selection California Viognier
84. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spain Monastrell
85. Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Sterile Juice Zinfandel
86. Vineco Atmosphere Italian Nebbiolo
87. RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Italian Sangiovese
88. Mosti Mondiale AllJuice Sauvignon Blanc
89. Winexpert Selection Australian Chardonnay
90. Mosti Mondiale AllJuice California Pinot Noir
91. Winexpert Eclipse Washington Yakima Valley Pinot Gris
92. Winexpert Limited Edition Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Malbec Merlot
93. Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Chile Carménère
94. Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Sterile Juice Cabernet Sauvignon
95. Winexpert World Vineyard Australian Shiraz
96. Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Carménère
97. Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Italian Barbera
98. Winexpert Eclipse Barossa Valley Shiraz
99. Mosti Mondiale AllJuice Chardonnay
100. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Australia Shiraz Viognier

Top 100 Kits by Varietal

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australia Cabernet Sauvignon (51)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ French Cabernet Sauvignon (61)
Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Ranch 11 Cabernet Sauvignon (70)
Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Sterile Juice Cabernet Sauvignon (94)

CARMÉNÈRE
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Chile Carménère (59)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Chile Carménère (93)
Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Carménère (96)

MERLOT
Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Sterile Juice Merlot (10)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Washington Merlot (23)
Winexpert Eclipse Napa Valley Stags Leap District Merlot (57)

NEBBIOLO
Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Nebbiolo (21)
Winexpert Eclipse Italian Piedmont Nebbiolo (44)
Winexpert Limited Edition Italian Barbaresco (69)
Winexpert Private Reserve Italian Piedmont Nebbiolo (81)
Vineco Atmosphere Italian Nebbiolo (86)

PINOT NOIR
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Pinot Noir (14)
Winexpert Limited Edition New Zealand Pinot Noir (34)
Winexpert Eclipse Sonoma Valley California Pinot Noir (37)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australian Pinot Noir (47)
Winexpert World Vineyard California Pinot Noir (48)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select California Pinot Noir (78)
Mosti Mondiale AllJuice California Pinot Noir (90)

SANGIOVESE
Vineco Atmosphere Italy Sangiovese (64)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru International Italian Sangiovese (87)

SYRAH/SHIRAZ
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australia Shiraz (56)
Winexpert World Vineyard Australian Shiraz (95)
Winexpert Eclipse Barossa Valley Shiraz (98)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Australia Shiraz Viognier (100)

OTHER RED VARIETALS
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spain Tempranillo (29)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select International Niagara Baco Noir (49)
Winexpert Selection Italian Montepulciano (65)
Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Sterile Juice Bergamais (66)
Mosti Mondiale Vinifera Noble Cabernet Franc (73)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spain Monastrell (84)
Vintner’s Cellar Supreme Sterile Juice Zinfandel (85)
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Italian Barbera (97)

RED BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Spanish Grenache Syrah (19)
Winexpert Eclipse Zinfandel Cabernet Sauvignon (20)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah (28)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone Style (42)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italy Rosso Grande Excellente (52)
Winexpert Selection California Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (60)
Mosti Mondiale Meglioli Amorosso (63)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Okanagan Meritage (68)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select California Cabernet Syrah Zinfandel (74)
Vineco Passport Series California Grand Red (79)
Vineco Atmosphere Merlot Syrah Viognier Red (80)
Winexpert Limited Edition Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Malbec Merlot (92)

CHARDONNAY
Mosti Mondiale Vinifera Noble Chardonnay (24)
Mosti Mondiale AllJuice Master’s Edition Australian Chardonnay (26)
Vineco Atmosphere Australian Chardonnay (67)
Winexpert Selection Australian Chardonnay (89)
Mosti Mondiale AllJuice Chardonnay (99)

SAUVIGNON BLANC
Winexpert Limited Edition New Zealand Fumé Blanc (11)
Vineco Atmosphere New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (38)
Winexpert Selection California Sauvignon Blanc (77)
Mosti Mondiale AllJuice Sauvignon Blanc (88)

PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS
Vineco Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Washington Pinot Gris (36)
Winexpert Selection International Italian Pinot Grigio (39)
Winexpert World Vineyard Italian Pinot Grigio (62)
Winexpert Eclipse Washington Yakima Valley Pinot Gris (91)

OTHER WHITE VARIETALS
Winexpert World Vineyard California Moscato (16)
Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Blanc (72)
Winexpert Selection California Viognier (83)

WHITE BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Australia Chardonnay Sémillon (32)
Winexpert Selection Pacifica White (50)
Winexpert Limited Edition Spain Milagro Blanco (58)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Bourbon Barrel White Blend (76)

LATE HARVEST & ICEWINE STYLE
Winexpert Après Late Harvest Riesling (4)
Winexpert Selection Spéciale Riesling Icewine Style (12)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Riesling Dessert Wine (31)
Winexpert Après Cabernet Franc Icewine Style (45)

PORT STYLE
Mosti Mondiale La Bodega Port Style (41)
Winexpert Après Dessert Port Style (71)

DESSERT STYLE
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Pomme Tatin (2)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Crème Brûlée (3)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vanilla Fig (6)
Winexpert Après Peach Icewine (7)
Winexpert Après Chocolate Salted Caramel (8)
Winexpert Selection Spéciale Peppermint Mocha (9)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel (13)
Winexpert Après Chocolate Raspberry (27)
Winexpert Après Blackberry Dessert Wine (30)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Coffee (35)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Raspberry Mocha (55)

GRAPE & NON-GRAPE BLENDS
Winexpert Island Mist Strawberry Watermelon Shiraz (5)
Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay (15)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ White Sangria (17)
Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach Sangria (33)
Winexpert Island Mist Pineapple Pear Pinot Grigio (43)
Winexpert Island Mist Blueberry Pinot Noir (46)
Winexpert Island Mist White Cranberry Pinot Gris (53)
Master Vintner Tropical Bliss Raspberry Merlot (54)
Winexpert Island Mist Cucumber Melon Sauvignon Blanc (75)

NON-GRAPE COUNTRY FRUITS
Vintner’s Best Peach (1)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Tropical Lime (18)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection (22)
Vintner’s Best Mango (25)
Brewer’s Best Cider House Select Pineapple (40)
Vintner’s Best Blood Orange (82)