This past April 2014, over 50 experienced judges evaluated a total of 1,460 wine kit entries as part of the 2014 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 1,460 wine kit entries were entered in 37 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.
We’ve found many WineMaker readers looking to purchase a wine kit 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. Eight 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 2014 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 2014 competition from among the 1,460 kit entries. This kit list represents the top 100 scoring kit entries with the highest average scores from 2014 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 Wine Kits for 2014
1 Winexpert Selection Speciale Cabernet Franc Ice Wine 2 RJ Spagnols Cru Select Specialty Black Forest Port 3 Winexpert Selection Speciale Chocolate Raspberry Port 4 RJ Spagnols En Primeur Italian Amarone 5 Paklab Cornucopia Fruit Peach Chardonnay 6 RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Australian Grenache Syrah 7 Winexpert World Vineyard California Moscato 8 RJ Spagnols Top Hat Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon 9 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Valpolicella 10 Winexpert Island Mist Apricot Peach Chardonnay 11 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Amarone 12 RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Australian Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 13 RJ Spagnols Cru Select Specialty Coffee Port 14 Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 15 Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Portuguese Douro Tinto 16 RJ Spagnols Hightail Okanagan Ehrenfelser 17 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series California Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel 18 Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Pinot Gris 19 Winexpert Selection Limited Edition German Traminer Spatlese 20 RJ Spagnols Cru Select German Gewürztraminer 21 Winexpert Selection International German Müller- Thurgau 22 Winexpert Selection Original Valpolicella 23 RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Trek Chilean Malbec Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 24 Winexpert Speciale Chocolate Orange Port 25 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series California Syrah 26 Winexpert Island Mist Green Apple Riesling 27 Cellar Craft Showcase Collection Viognier 28 Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau Du Pays 29 Winexpert Selection International Australian Chardonnay 30 Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Washington Meritage 31 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Super Tuscan 32 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Rosso Grande Eccellente 33 Winexpert Selection Speciale Riesling Ice Wine 34 Mosti Mondiale Black Cherry Chocolate Port 35 Winexpert Selection International Spanish Tempranillo 36 RJ Spagnols Orchard Breezin Pear-Licious 37 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 38 RJ Spagnols Cru Select Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Carmenere 39 RJ Spagnols Orchard Breezin Tangerine Lemon Sauvignon Blanc 40 Wine Kitz Traditional Vintage Valpolicella 41 Cellar Craft Showcase Limited Release Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon 42 Cellar Craft Premium Piesporter 43 Winexpert Island Mist Pomegranate Zinfandel 44 RJ Spagnols En Primeur Australian Shiraz 45 Vineco Kenridge Showcase Collection Limited Edition Grand Red 46 Winexpert Eclipse Italian Barolo 47 RJ Spagnols Orchard Breezin Banana Pineapple Viognier 48 Cellar Craft Showcase Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 49 Cellar Craft Showcase Merlot 50 Winexpert Selection Original Piesporter 51 Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Argentine Malbec Bonarda 52 Winexpert Eclipse Australian Shiraz 53 Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Italian Nebbiolo 54 RJ Spagnols En Primeur New Zealand Pinot Noir 55 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series California Cabernet Sauvignon 56 Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Gris 57 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon 58 RJ Spagnols Cru Select Hightail Pinot Noir 59 RJ Spagnols Cru Select Specialty Orange Chocolate Port 60 Winexpert Island Mist Cranberry Pinot Gris 61 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Grenache Syrah 62 RJ Spagnols Orchard Breezin Peach Chardonnay 63 RJ Spagnols Cru Specialty White Chocolate Port 64 Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Ranch II Cabernet Sauvignon 65 RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Italian Sangiovese Merlot 66 RJ Spagnols En Primeur Malbec 67 RJ Spagnols Cru Select Specialty Toasted Toasted Caramel Port 68 RJ Spagnols Orchard Breezin Loquat Ginger Pinot Gris 69 RJ Spagnols Top Hat Australian Shiraz 70 RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Tempranillo Malbec 71 Winexpert Selection Estate Series Napa Valley Stag’s Leap Merlot 72 Winexpert Selection Estate Series Merlot 73 Cellar Craft Specialty Porto Corinto Black Currant 74 Winexpert Selection International Australian Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 75 Winexpert Selection International Spanish Rioja 76 Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Washington Syrah 77 Cellar Craft Specialty Sherry 78 RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon 79 RJ Spagnols Cru Select Italian Valpola Ripassa 80 RJ Spagnols Cru Select Special Reserve Chilean Malbec Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 81 RJ Spagnols Orchard Breezin Raspberry 82 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Washington Merlot 83 RJ Spagnols Cru Select California Old ine Zinfandel 84 Vineco Kenridge Showcase Collection Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon 85 Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Cellar Craft Showcase Pinotage 87 Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone 88 RJ Spagnols Orchard Breezin Cranapple Chardonnay 89 Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Bergamais 90 Mosti Mondiale Pinot Noir 91 Winexpert Selection Speciale Blackberry Port 92 Winexpert Selection International Italian Amarone 93 Vineco Legacy Merlot 94 RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Hang Ten Syrah Zinfandel Barbera 95 WineKitz Limited Release Cabernet Franc Ice Wine 96 Mosti Mondiale Cabernet Sauvignon 97 Winexpert Selection International Viognier 98 Vineco Kenridge Showcase Collection French Melange a Trois 99 RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Malbec 100 Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Angel Blanco
Top 100 Kits by Wine Style/Varietal (number in parentheses is the overall top 100 kit ranking)
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RJ Spagnols Top Hat Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (8) Cellar Craft Showcase Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (48) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series California Cabernet Sauvignon (55) Winexpert Eclipse Lodi Ranch II Cabernet Sauvignon (64) RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (78) Vineco Kenridge Showcase Collection Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon (84) Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (85) Mosti Mondiale Cabernet Sauvignon (96)
MALBEC
RJ Spagnols En Primeur Malbec (66) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Malbec (99)
MERLOT
Cellar Craft Showcase Merlot (49) Winexpert Selection Estate Series Napa Valley Stag’s Leap Merlot (71) Winexpert Selection Estate Series Merlot (72) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Washington Merlot (82) Vineco Legacy Merlot (93)
NEBBIOLO
Winexpert Eclipse Italian Barolo (46) Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Italian Nebbiolo (53)
PINOT NOIR
RJ Spagnols En Primeur New Zealand Pinot Noir (54) RJ Spagnols Cru Select Hightail Pinot Noir (58) Mosti Mondiale Pinot Noir (90)
SYRAH/SHIRAZ
RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series California Syrah (25) RJ Spagnols En Primeur Australian Shiraz (44) Winexpert Eclipse Australian Shiraz (52) RJ Spagnols Top Hat Australian Shiraz (69) Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Washington Syrah (76)
ZINFANDEL
RJ Spagnols Cru Select California Old Vine Zinfandel (83)
RJ Spagnols En Primeur Italian Amarone (4) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Amarone (11) Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone (87) Winexpert Selection International Italian Amarone (92)
OTHER RED VINIFERA BLENDS
RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Australian Grenache Syrah (6) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Valpolicella (9) RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Australian Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon (12) Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Portuguese Douro Tinto (15) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series California Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Zinfandel (17) Winexpert Selection Original Valpolicella (22) RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Trek Chilean Malbec Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (23) Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau Du Pays (28) Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Washington Meritage (30) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Italian Super Tuscan (31) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Rosso Grande Eccellente (32) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz (37) RJ Spagnols Cru Select Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Carmenere (38) Wine Kitz Traditional Vintage Valpolicella (40) Cellar Craft Showcase Limited Release Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon (41) Vineco Kenridge Showcase Collection Limited Edition Grand Red (45) Winexpert Selection Limited Edition Argentine Malbec Bonarda (51) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon (57) RJ Spagnols Cellar Classic Winery Series Grenache Syrah (61) RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Italian Sangiovese Merlot (65) RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Tempranillo Malbec (70) Winexpert Selection International Australian Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre (74) Winexpert Selection International Spanish Rioja (75) RJ Spagnols Cru Select Italian Valpola Ripassa (79) RJ Spagnols Cru Select Special Reserve Chilean Malbec Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (80) RJ Spagnols Cru Select RQ Hang Ten Syrah Zinfandel Barbera (94) Vineco Kenridge Showcase Collection French Melange a Trois (98)
CHARDONNAY
Winexpert Selection International Australian Chardonnay (29)
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This past April 2014, over 50 experienced judges evaluated a total of 1,460 wine kit entries as part of the 2014 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 1,460 wine kit entries were entered in 37 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.
