This past April, experienced judges evaluated a total of 366 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2023 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition that had a grand total of 1,718 entries. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 366 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 2023 medalists can be found at: www.winemakermag.com/competition/23compresults
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. Sixteen 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 2023 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 2023 competition from among the 366 kit entries.
This list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2023 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 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Coffee Dessert
2 Winexpert Après Chocolate Mocha Dessert Wine
3 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine
4 Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate
5 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Cranapple Celebration
6 Winexpert Limited Edition Australian Grenache Tannat Shiraz
7 Winexpert Après Cabernet Franc Ice Wine Style
8 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International California Muscat
9 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Spanish Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon Grenache
10 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Italian Style Valpola
11 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Raspberry Peach Sangria
12 Winexpert Island Mist Peach Raspberry Lemon
13 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine
14 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Malbec Bonarda Syrah
15 Vintner’s Best Cherry
16 Winexpert Après Chocolate Orange Dessert Wine
17 Winexpert Limited Edition Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Pinotage Grenache
18 Vintner’s Best Peach
19 Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir
20 Vintner’s Best Blueberry
21 Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
22 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ French Cabernet Sauvignon
23 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection
24 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty White Chocolate Dessert Wine
25 Winexpert Private Reserve Amarone
26 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Petit Verdot
27 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Meritage Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot
28 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Green Apple Delight
29 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Super Tuscan
30 Finer Wine Zinfandel
31 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Sauvignon Blanc
32 Winexpert Après Riesling Ice Wine Style
33 VineCo Connoisseur California Red
34 Winexpert Private Reserve Zinfandel
35 Vintner’s Best Elderberry
36 VineCo Original Series Washington Riesling
37 VineCo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon
38 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Mango Dragon Fruit Lemonade
39 Winexpert Revelation Cabernet Sauvignon
40 Winexpert Après Vanilla Bourbon Dessert Wine
41 Vintner’s Best Hemp CBD
42 Winexpert Classic Australian Grenache Shiraz Mourvédre
43 Winexpert Classic California Sangiovese
44 Winexpert Reserve Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz
45 Winexpert Private Reserve Napa Valley Stag’s Leap Merlot
46 Vintner’s Best Lemon
47 RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Merlot
48 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australian Cabernet Sauvignon
49 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Mourvédre
50 Winexpert Island Mist Blood Orange Sangria
51 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Gingerbread Cookie Dessert Wine
52 Winexpert Private Reserve Shiraz
53 Winexpert Après Sour Cherry Dessert Wine
54 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Heritage Pinot Grigio
55 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vanilla Fig Dessert Wine
56 Winexpert Limited Release Washington Sangiovese Rosé
57 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
58 Winexpert World Vineyard Chilean Merlot
59 Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu Pinot Gris
60 VineCo Cellar Craft Showcase Collection Italian Rosso Fortissimo
61 Vintner’s Best Blackberry
62 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Zinfandel
63 Vintner’s Best Dandelion
64 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Nebbiolo
65 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Crème Brûlée Dessert Wine
66 Winexpert Selection International Australian Petit Verdot
67 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone
68 Winexpert Reserve Australian Chardonnay
69 Winexpert Island Mist Wildberry Shiraz
70 ABC Crafted Series Sangiovese
71 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select California Pinot Noir
72 Winexpert Classic California Moscato
73 VineCo Niagara Mist Blackberry
74 Winexpert Après Peach Ice Wine Style
75 Winexpert Private Reserve Italian Super Tuscan
76 Wild Grapes Premium Australian Chardonnay
77 Winexpert Private Reserve Spanish Albariño
78 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Australian Chardonnay
79 Winexpert Island Mist Black Raspberry
80 RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry Rapture
81 Winexpert Eclipse California Chardonnay
82 RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Australian Pinot Noir
83 VineCo Signature Series California Merlot
84 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Italian Nero d’Avola
85 Brewer’s Best Cider House Select Cherry Cider
86 Winexpert Private Reserve Languedoc French Bordeaux Style Blend
87 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel Dessert Wine
88 Mosti Mondiale Renaissance Rosso Nero d’Avola
89 VineCo Estate Series Grenache
90 Winexpert Private Reserve Lodi Ranch II Cabernet Sauvignon
91 Winexpert Reserve Italian Dolcetto
92 RJS Craft Winemaking Italian Sangiovese
93 VineCo Estate Series Italian Pinot Grigio
94 Winexpert Limited Edition Italian Trebbiano Riesling
95 Winexpert Private Reserve California Sauvignon Blanc
96 VineCo Original Series Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
97 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International German Müller-Thurgau
98 RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vidal Style Dessert Wine
99 RJS Craft Winemaking RQ El Flamenco Rosé Granacha
100 Master Vintner Sommelier Select Nebbiolo
Top 100 Wine Kits By Varietal/Wine Style
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ French Cabernet Sauvignon (22)
VineCo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon (37)
Winexpert Revelation Cabernet Sauvignon (39)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (48)
Winexpert Private Reserve Lodi Ranch II Cabernet Sauvignon (90)
MERLOT
Winexpert Private Reserve Napa Valley Stag’s Leap Merlot (45)
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Merlot (47)
Winexpert World Vineyard Chilean Merlot (58)
VineCo Signature Series California Merlot (83)
NERO d’AVOLA
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Italian Nero d’Avola (84)
Mosti Mondiale Renaissance Rosso Nero d’Avola (88)
PETIT VERDOT
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Petit Verdot (26)
Winexpert Selection International Australian Petit Verdot (66)
PINOT NOIR
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select California Pinot Noir (71)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Australian Pinot Noir (82)
SANGIOVESE
Winexpert Classic California Sangiovese (43)
ABC Crafted Series Sangiovese (70)
RJS Craft Winemaking Italian Sangiovese (92)
ZINFANDEL
Finer Wine Zinfandel (30)
Winexpert Private Reserve Zinfandel (34)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Zinfandel (62)
OTHER RED VARIETALS
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Spanish Mourvédre (49)
Winexpert Private Reserve Shiraz (52)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Nebbiolo (64)
VineCo Estate Series Grenache (89)
Winexpert Reserve Italian Dolcetto (91)
Master Vintner Sommelier Select Nebbiolo (100)
RED BLENDS
Winexpert Limited Edition Australian Grenache Tannat Shiraz (6)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Spanish Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon Grenache (9)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Italian Style Valpola (10)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Malbec Bonarda Syrah (14)
Winexpert Limited Edition Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Pinotage Grenache (17)
Winexpert Private Reserve Amarone (25)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International Meritage Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot (27)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Super Tuscan (29)
VineCo Connoisseur California Red (33)
Winexpert Classic Australian Grenache Shiraz Mourvédre (42)
Winexpert Reserve Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz (44)
VineCo Cellar Craft Showcase Collection Italian Rosso Fortissimo (60)
RJS Craft Winemaking En Primeur Winery Series Italian Amarone (67)
Winexpert Private Reserve Italian Super Tuscan (75)
Winexpert Private Reserve Languedoc French Bordeaux Style Blend (86)
CHARDONNAY
Winexpert Reserve Australian Chardonnay (68)
Wild Grapes Premium Australian Chardonnay (76)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select Australian Chardonnay (79)
Winexpert Eclipse California Chardonnay (81)
MUSCAT
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International California Muscat (8)
Winexpert Classic California Moscato (72)
PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS
RJS Craft Winemaking Grand Cru Heritage Pinot Grigio (54)
VineCo Estate Series Italian Pinot Grigio (93)
RIESLING
VineCo Original Series Washington Riesling (36)
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Master Vintner Winemaker’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (21)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ Sauvignon Blanc (31)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Select New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (57)
Winexpert Private Reserve California Sauvignon Blanc (95)
VineCo Original Series Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (96)
OTHER WHITE VARIETALS
Winexpert Private Reserve Spanish Albariño (77)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru International German Müller-Thurgau (97)
WHITE BLENDS
Winexpert Limited Edition Italian Trebbiano Riesling (94)
BLUSH/ROSÉ
Winexpert Limited Release Washington Sangiovese Rosé (56)
RJS Craft Winemaking RQ El Flamenco Rosé Granacha (99)
LATE HARVEST & ICE WINE STYLE
Winexpert Après Cabernet Franc Ice Wine Style (7)
Winexpert Après Riesling Ice Wine Style (32)
Winexpert Après Peach Ice Wine Style (74)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vidal Style Dessert Wine (98)
DESSERT STYLE
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Coffee Dessert (1)
Winexpert Après Chocolate Mocha Dessert Wine (2)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Raspberry Mocha Dessert Wine (3)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Black Forest Dessert Wine (13)
Winexpert Après Chocolate Orange Dessert Wine (16)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty White Chocolate Dessert Wine (24)
Winexpert Après Vanilla Bourbon Dessert Wine (40)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Gingerbread Cookie Dessert Wine (51)
Winexpert Après Sour Cherry Dessert Wine (53)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Vanilla Fig Dessert Wine (55)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Crème Brûlée Dessert Wine (65)
RJS Craft Winemaking Cru Specialty Toasted Caramel Dessert Wine (87)
GRAPE & NON-GRAPE BLENDS
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Raspberry Peach Sangria (11)
Winexpert Island Mist Black Cherry Pinot Noir (19)
Winexpert Island Mist Blood Orange Sangria (50)
Winexpert Island Mist Coconut Yuzu Pinot Gris (59)
Winexpert Island Mist Wildberry Shiraz (69)
NON-GRAPE COUNTRY WINES
Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate (4)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Cranapple Celebration (5)
Winexpert Island Mist Peach Raspberry Lemon (12)
Vintner’s Best Cherry (15)
Vintner’s Best Peach (18)
Vintner’s Best Blueberry (20)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Peach Perfection (23)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Green Apple Delight (28)
Vintner’s Best Elderberry (35)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Mango Dragon Fruit Lemonade (38)
Vintner’s Best Hemp CBD (41)
Vintner’s Best Lemon (46)
Vintner’s Best Blackberry (61)
Vintner’s Best Dandelion (63)
VineCo Niagara Mist Blackberry (73)
Winexpert Island Mist Black Raspberry (79)
RJS Craft Winemaking Orchard Breezin’ Acai Raspberry Rapture (80)
Brewer’s Best Cider House Select Cherry Cider (85)
Wine kits contain all the ingredients you need to make a great wine, but the catch is that you have to actually make it. To get from a collection of ingredients to sharing a bottle of wine with some friends, you will need the proper equipment, an understanding of your kit’s contents and a feel for the basic steps and procedures for making wine. In this section, learn about the basic skills…
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.
