Top 100 Wine Kits of 2021

This past July, experienced judges evaluated a total of 499 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2021 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition that had a grand total of 1,893 entries. The 499 wine kit entries were entered into over 30 different categories and represented a broad selection of varietals and blends from all major kit manufacturers.  This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across
North America. 

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 2021 medalists can be found at: https://winemakermag.com/competition/21compresults

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. Fourteen 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 2021 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 2021 competition from among the 499 kit entries.

This kit list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2021 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. Vintner’s Best Hemp CBD Wine Base
2. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection
3. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vanilla Fig Dessert Wine
4. Winexpert Après Dessert Wine
5. Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Dragon Fruit Shiraz
6. Winexpert Après Chocolate Raspberry Dessert Wine
7. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Barolo
8. Winexpert Après Late Harvest Riesling Ice Wine
9. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Port
10. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine
11. Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay
12. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine
13. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel
14. Winexpert Selection Nebbiolo
15. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Tempranillo
16. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Amarone
17. Winexpert Classic Italian Valroza
18. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Crème Brûlée Dessert Wine
19. Winexpert Eclipse Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vine Zinfandel
20. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Blackberry Blast Merlot
21. Winexpert Reserve Argentina Malbec
22. Winexpert Après Peach Ice Wine
23. Winexpert Après Chocolate Salted Caramel Dessert Wine
24. RJS Craft Winemaking Australian Chardonnay
25. Winexpert Island Mist Peach Bellini
26. Winexpert Classic Chilean Merlot
27. Winexpert Limited Edition Pacific Red Quartet
28. Winexpert Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
29. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Argentina Bonarda Syrah
30. Vintner’s Best Blackberry
31. Winexpert Diablo Rojo
32. RJS Craft Winemaking Winery Series Zinfandel
33. Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Shiraz
34. Cellar Craft Showcase California Zinfandel
35. Winexpert Island Mist Blackberry Cabernet 
36. RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Niagara Merlot
37. RJS Craft Winemaking Heritage Estates Vieux Château du Roi
38. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Shiraz Viognier
39. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rockin’ Raspberry Rosé
40. Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu Pinot Gris
41. RJS Craft Winemaking Chilean Merlot Syrah
42. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Italian Nebbiolo
43. Vintner’s Best Strawberry
44. Winexpert Limited Edition Lodi Black Cab
45. Master Vintner Tropical Bliss Merlot Raspberry
46. Winexpert Reserve Australian Boomerang Red
47. Winexpert Select Cabernet Sauvignon
48. Winexpert Limited Edition Double Noir
49. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Zinfandel
50. Winexpert Limited Edition Yolo White
51. Winexpert Limited Edition Pecorino Pinot Grigio
52. Winexpert Reserve Gewürztraminer
53. Winexpert Island Mist Cucumber Melon Sauvignon Blanc
54. Winexpert Selection California Zinfandel
55. Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir
56. Mosti Mondiale AllJuice Sauvignon Blanc
57. Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach Sangria
58. Winexpert Selection Merlot
59. Winexpert Selection Speciale Port
60. Winexpert Vintners Reserve Italian Pinot Grigio
61. Winexpert Limited Edition Fume Blanc
62. RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Monastrell
63. Winexpert Private Reserve Dry Creek Valley Sonoma Chardonnay
64. Winexpert Classic Tempranillo
65. Winexpert Eclipse Cabernet Sauvignon
66. Winexpert Limited Edition Symphony Gewürztraminer
67. Vintner’s Best Hazy Lemon
68. Winexpert Limited Edition Pacifica White
69. VineCo Original Pinot Grigio
70. Winexpert Limited Edition Cape Blend
71. VineCo Atmosphere Chardonnay
72. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Super Tuscan
73. VineCo California Connoisseur Cabernet Sauvignon
74. Mosti Mondiale California Cabernet Sauvignon
75. Winexpert Australian Grenache Cabernet Sauvignon
76. Winexpert Island Mist White Cranberry Pinot Gris
77. RJS Craft Winemaking Okanagan Meritage
78. RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International French Rosé\
79. Winexpert Eclipse Amarone
80. Winexpert Limited Edition New Zealand Merlot
81. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Amarone Classico
82. Winexpert Eclipse Mosel Valley Gewürztraminer
83. Winexpert Island Mist Limited Release Chocolate Orange
84. Winexpert World Vineyard Australian Shiraz
85. Winexpert Limited Edition Eclipse Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel
86. Winexpert Island Mist Blood Orange Sangria
87. Winexpert Selection Chardonnay
88. Winexpert Private Reserve Marlborough New Zealand Pinot Noir
89. VineCo Passport Union Red
90. Winexpert Reserve Australian Grenache Rosé
91. RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Blush Crush
92. VineCo Signature Series Zinfandel
93. Winexpert Eclipse Limited Edition Three Moons Cabernet Sauvignon
94. Winexpert Island Mist Exotic Fruits White Zinfandel
95. RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Australian Pinot Noir
96. VineCo Atmosphere Sangiovese
97. Winexpert Selection Müller-Thurgau
98. RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Vieux Château du Roi
99. Wine Lovers Amarone
100. Cellar Craft Showcase Washington Viognier

Top 100 Wine Kits By Varietal/Wine Style 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Winexpert Select Cabernet Sauvignon (47)
Winexpert Eclipse Cabernet Sauvignon (65)
VineCo California Connoisseur Cabernet Sauvignon (73)
Mosti Mondiale California Cabernet Sauvignon (74)
Winexpert Eclipse Limited Edition Three Moons Cabernet Sauvignon (93)

MERLOT

Winexpert Classic Chilean Merlot (26)
RJS Craft Winemaking Hightail Niagara Merlot (36)
Winexpert Selection Merlot (58)
Winexpert Limited Edition New Zealand Merlot (80)

NEBBIOLO

RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Barolo (7)
Winexpert Selection Nebbiolo (14)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Italian Nebbiolo (42)

PINOT NOIR

Winexpert Private Reserve Marlborough New Zealand Pinot Noir (88)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Australian Pinot Noir (95)

SYRAH/SHIRAZ

Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Shiraz (33)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Shiraz Viognier (38)
Winexpert World Vineyard Australian Shiraz (84)

TEMPRANILLO

RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Tempranillo (15)
Winexpert Classic Tempranillo (64)

ZINFANDEL

RJS Craft Winemaking Winery Series Zinfandel (32)
Cellar Craft Showcase California Zinfandel (34)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Zinfandel (49)
Winexpert Selection California Zinfandel (54)
Winexpert Limited Edition Eclipse Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (85)
VineCo Signature Series Zinfandel (92)

OTHER RED VARIETALS

Winexpert Reserve Argentina Malbec (21)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Monastrell (62)
VineCo Atmosphere Sangiovese (96)

RED BLENDS

Winexpert Classic Italian Valroza (17)
Winexpert Eclipse Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vine Zinfandel (19)
Winexpert Limited Edition Pacific Red Quartet (27)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Argentina Bonarda Syrah (29)
Winexpert Diablo Rojo (31)
RJS Craft Winemaking Heritage Estates Vieux Château du Roi (37)
RJS Craft Winemaking Chilean Merlot Syrah (41)
Winexpert Limited Edition Lodi Black Cab (44)
Winexpert Reserve Australian Boomerang Red (46)
Winexpert Limited Edition Double Noir (48)
Winexpert Limited Edition Cape Blend (70)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Super Tuscan (72)
Winexpert Australian Grenache Cabernet Sauvignon (75)
RJS Craft Winemaking Okanagan Meritage (77)
VineCo Passport Union Red (89)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Vieux Château du Roi (98)

AMARONE-STYLE BLENDS

RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Amarone (16)
Winexpert Eclipse Amarone (79)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Amarone Classico (81)
Wine Lovers Amarone (99)

CHARDONNAY

RJS Craft Winemaking Australian Chardonnay (24)
Winexpert Private Reserve Dry Creek Valley Sonoma Chardonnay (63)
VineCo Atmosphere Chardonnay (71)
Winexpert Selection Chardonnay (87)

GEWüRZTRAMINER

Winexpert Reserve Gewürztraminer (52)
Winexpert Eclipse Mosel Valley Gewürztraminer (82)

PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS

Winexpert Vintners Reserve Italian Pinot Grigio (60)
VineCo Original Pinot Grigio (69)

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Winexpert Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (28)
Mosti Mondiale AllJuice Sauvignon Blanc (56)
Winexpert Limited Edition Fume Blanc (61)

OTHER WHITE VARIETALS

Winexpert Selection Müller-Thurgau (97)
Cellar Craft Showcase Washington Viognier (100)

WHITE BLENDS

Winexpert Limited Edition Yolo White (50)
Winexpert Limited Edition Pecorino Pinot Grigio (51)
Winexpert Limited Edition Symphony Gewürztraminer (66)
Winexpert Limited Edition Pacifica White (68)

BLUSH/ROSÉ

RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International French Rosé (78)
Winexpert Reserve Australian Grenache Rosé (90)

LATE HARVEST & ICE WINE STYLE

Winexpert Après Late Harvest Riesling Ice Wine (8)
Winexpert Après Peach Ice Wine (22)

PORT STYLE

RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Port (9)
Winexpert Selection Speciale Port (59)

DESSERT STYLE

RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vanilla Fig Dessert Wine (3)
Winexpert Après Dessert Wine (4)
Winexpert Après Chocolate Raspberry Dessert Wine (6)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine (10)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine (12)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel (13)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Crème Brûlée Dessert Wine (18)
Winexpert Après Chocolate Salted Caramel Dessert Wine (23)

GRAPE & NON-GRAPE BLENDS

Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Dragon Fruit Shiraz (5)
Winexpert Island Mist Peach Apricot Chardonnay (11)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Blackberry Blast Merlot (20)
Winexpert Island Mist Peach Bellini (25)
Winexpert Island Mist Blackberry Cabernet (35)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Rockin’ Raspberry Rosé (39)
Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu Pinot Gris (40)
Master Vintner Tropical Bliss Merlot Raspberry (45)
Winexpert Island Mist Cucumber Melon Sauvignon Blanc (53)
Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir (55)
Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach Sangria (57)
Winexpert Island Mist White Cranberry Pinot Gris (76)
Winexpert Island Mist Blood Orange Sangria (86)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Blush Crush (91)
Winexpert Island Mist Exotic Fruits White Zinfandel (94)

NON-GRAPE COUNTRY WINES

Vintner’s Best Hemp CBD Wine Base (1)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection (2)
Vintner’s Best Blackberry (30)
Vintner’s Best Strawberry (43)
Vintner’s Best Hazy Lemon (67)
Winexpert Island Mist Limited Release Chocolate Orange (83)