This past April, experienced judges evaluated a total of 403 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2022 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition that had a grand total of 1,772 entries. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 403 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 2022 medalists can be found at: https://winemakermag.com/competition/22compresults
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. 15 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 2022 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 2022 competition from among the 403 kit entries.
This kit list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2022 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!
- Winexpert Après Riesling Ice Wine
- Vintner’s Best Mango
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Crème Brûlée
- RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection
- Winexpert Classic Washington Riesling
- Winexpert Island Mist Blueberry
- RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry
- Winexpert Washington Pinot Gris
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Limited Release Coffee Dessert Wine
- Winexpert Limited Edition Grenache Tannat Shiraz
- Winexpert Speciale Peppermint Mocha Dessert
- Winexpert Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert
- RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Super Tuscan
- Winexpert Après Peach Ice Wine
- Winexpert Après Chocolate Raspberry Dessert Wine
- Winexpert Eclipse Mosel Valley Gewürztraminer
- RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah
- Winexpert Limited Edition Pacific Quartet
- Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Riesling
- Winexpert Limited Edition New Zealand Fumé Blanc
- Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
- Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel
- Winexpert Limited Edition Black Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon Gamay Noir
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vanilla Fig Dessert
- Vintner’s Best Cherry
- Winexpert Classic Italian Sangiovese
- RJS Craft Winemaking Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine
- Wild Grapes Premium Australian Chardonnay
- Winexpert Selection Luna Rossa
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International German Müller-Thurgau
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cabernet Franc
- Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Grigio
- VineCo Estate Series Italian Primo Rosso
- RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Chardonnay
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru California Moscato
- Winexpert Late Harvest Riesling
- RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Spain Grenache Syrah
- Finer Wine Kits Forte Series Zinfandel
- Winexpert Selection Vieux Chateau du Roi
- RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Seville Orange Sangria
- Winexpert Island Mist Blood Orange Sangria
- Winexpert Private Reserve Odyssey Barossa Valley Australian Shiraz
- Winexpert World Vineyard Pink Moscato
- Winexpert Limited Edition Synergy
- Winexpert Private Reserve Napa Valley Stag’s Leap Merlot
- Winexpert Selection Chilean Carménère
- Winexpert Private Reserve California Sauvignon Blanc
- Winexpert Private Reserve Dry Creek Sonoma Chardonnay
- Winexpert Classic Diablo Rojo
- Winexpert Après Toasted Marshmallow Dessert
- Winexpert Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winexpert Limited Edition Torrontés Muscat
- Vintner’s Harvest Blackberry
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty White Chocolate Dessert Wine
- RJS Craft Winemaking Restricted Quantities France Rosé
- RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Malbec
- RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Valpola
- VineCo Original Series Italian Pinot Grigio
- Winexpert Limited Edition California Yolo County Chardonnay Muscat Chenin Blanc
- RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone
- Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu
- Winexpert Island Mist Kiwi Pear
- Winexpert Private Reserve Zinfandel
- Winexpert Private Reserve Boomerang Red
- VineCo Original Series California Chardonnay
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Sauvignon Blanc
- Winexpert Classic California Moscato
- Finer Wine Kits Forte Series Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winexpert Eclipse Three Moons California Italian Australian Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winexpert Reserve Spanish Tempranillo
- RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Zinfandel
- Winexpert Private Reserve Australian Grenache
- Winexpert Island Mist White Cranberry
- VineCo Original Series Washington Riesling
- Winexpert Limited Edition Italian Nerello
- Vintner’s Best Blood Orange
- Mosti Mondiale L’Originale Merlot
- Winexpert Island Mist Green Apple Riesling
- Winexpert Private Reserve Bordeaux Style Languedoc Blend
- RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spain Muscat
- Winexpert Limited Edition Symphony Gewürztraminer
- Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach Sangria
- RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Sauvignon Blanc
- RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Strawberry Sensation
- Winexpert Private Reserve Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
- VineCo Signature Series Zinfandel
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International California Chardonnay
- Winexpert Private Reserve Piedmont Nebbiolo
- RJS Craft Winemaking California Pinot Noir
- VineCo Niagara Mist Mango Passion Fruit
- RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Merlot
- Finer Wine Kits Tavola Series Lodi Merlot
- Winexpert Private Reserve Italian Dolcetto
- Vintner’s Best Dandelion
- RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Okanagan Valley Meritage
- Mosti Mondiale L’Originale Nero D’Avola
- ABC Cork Co. Fontana Washington State Merlot
- VineCo Passport Series Merlot
Top 100 Wine Kits By Varietal/Wine Style
Note: Top 100 rank listed in parentheses
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Winexpert Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (53)
Finer Wine Kits Forte Series Cabernet Sauvignon (70)
Winexpert Eclipse Three Moons California Italian Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (71)
MERLOT
Winexpert Private Reserve Napa Valley Stag’s Leap Merlot (47)
Mosti Mondiale L’Originale Merlot (79)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Merlot (93)
Finer Wine Kits Tavola Series Lodi Merlot (94)
ABC Cork Co. Fontana Washington State Merlot (99)
VineCo Passport Series Merlot (100)
PINOT NOIR
Winexpert Private Reserve Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir (87)
RJS Craft Winemaking California Pinot Noir (91)
ZINFANDEL
Finer Wine Kits Forte Series Zinfandel (40)
Winexpert Private Reserve Zinfandel (65)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Zinfandel (73)
VineCo Signature Series Zinfandel (88)
OTHER RED VARIETALS
Winexpert Classic Italian Sangiovese (28)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cabernet Franc (33)
Winexpert Private Reserve Odyssey Barossa Valley Australian Shiraz (44)
Winexpert Selection Chilean Carménère (48)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Malbec (58)
Winexpert Reserve Spanish Tempranillo (72)
Winexpert Private Reserve Australian Grenache (74)
Winexpert Limited Edition Italian Nerello (77)
Winexpert Private Reserve Piedmont Nebbiolo (90)
Winexpert Private Reserve Italian Dolcetto (95)
Mosti Mondiale L’Originale Nero D’Avola (98)
RED BLENDS
Winexpert Limited Edition Grenache Tannat Shiraz (10)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Italian Super Tuscan (14)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah (18)
Winexpert Limited Edition Pacific Quartet (19)
Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (22)
Winexpert Limited Edition Black Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon Gamay Noir (25)
Winexpert Selection Luna Rossa (31)
VineCo Estate Series Italian Primo Rosso (35)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Spain Grenache Syrah (39)
Winexpert Selection Vieux Chateau du Roi (41)
Winexpert Classic Diablo Rojo (51)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Valpola (59)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone (62)
Winexpert Private Reserve Boomerang Red (66)
Winexpert Private Reserve Bordeaux Style Languedoc Blend (81)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Okanagan Valley Meritage (97)
CHARDONNAY
Wild Grapes Premium Australian Chardonnay (30)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Chardonnay (36)
Winexpert Private Reserve Dry Creek Sonoma Chardonnay (50)
VineCo Original Series California Chardonnay (67)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International California Chardonnay (89)
MUSCAT
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru California Moscato (37)
Winexpert Classic California Moscato (69)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spain Muscat (82)
PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS
Winexpert Washington Pinot Gris (8)
Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Grigio (34)
VineCo Original Series Italian Pinot Grigio (60)
RIESLING
Winexpert Classic Washington Riesling (5)
Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Riesling (20)
VineCo Original Series Washington Riesling (76)
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Winexpert Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (12)
Winexpert Limited Edition New Zealand Fumé Blanc (21)
Winexpert Private Reserve California Sauvignon Blanc (49)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Sauvignon Blanc (68)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Sauvignon Blanc (85)
OTHER WHITE VARIETALS
Winexpert Eclipse Mosel Valley Gewürztraminer (17)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International German Müller-Thurgau (32)
WHITE BLENDS
Winexpert Limited Edition Synergy (46)
Winexpert Limited Edition Torrontés Muscat (54)
Winexpert Limited Edition California Yolo County Chardonnay Muscat Chenin Blanc (61)
Winexpert Limited Edition Symphony Gewürztraminer (83)
BLUSH/ROSÉ
Winexpert World Vineyard Pink Moscato (45)
RJS Craft Winemaking Restricted Quantities France Rosé (57)
LATE HARVEST & ICE WINE STYLE
Winexpert Après Riesling Ice Wine (1)
Winexpert Late Harvest Riesling (38)
DESSERT STYLE
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Crème Brûlée (3)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Limited Release Coffee Dessert Wine (9)
Winexpert Speciale Peppermint Mocha Dessert (11)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert (13)
Winexpert Après Peach Ice Wine (15)
Winexpert Après Chocolate Raspberry Dessert Wine (16)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel (24)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vanilla Fig Dessert (26)
RJS Craft Winemaking Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine (29)
Winexpert Après Toasted Marshmallow Dessert (52)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty White Chocolate Dessert Wine (56)
GRAPE & NON-GRAPE BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Seville Orange Sangria (42)
Winexpert Island Mist Blood Orange Sangria (43)
Winexpert Island Mist Green Apple Riesling (80)
Winexpert Island Mist Raspberry Peach Sangria (84)
NON-GRAPE COUNTRY WINES
Vintner’s Best Mango (2)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection (4)
Winexpert Island Mist Blueberry (6)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry (7)
Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry (23)
Vintner’s Best Cherry (27)
Vintner’s Harvest Blackberry (55)
Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu (63)
Winexpert Island Mist Kiwi Pear (64)
Winexpert Island Mist White Cranberry (75)
Vintner’s Best Blood Orange (78)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Strawberry Sensation (86)
VineCo Niagara Mist Mango Passion Fruit (92)
Vintner’s Best Dandelion (96)