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Wine Kit Descriptions

grapestompers.com offers several different types of wine kits, all of which are made by the great vintners at RJ Spagnols.

  • Cellar Classic - premium 6-week wine kits made with 7 liters of grape concentrate and 8 liters of varietal grape juice
  • Vino del Vida - popular 4-week wine kits made with 7 liters of grape concentrate... a great value for the impatient (and frugal) winemaker!
  • Cru Select - premium 16-liter wine kits (Gold or Platinum varieties) made from pure varietal grape juice in addition to European and Australian grape concentrates. Only 6 weeks from box to bottling.
  • Grand Cru - popular 10-liter wine kits, made from 7 liters of grape concentrate and 3 liters of pure varietal grape juice. Ready to bottle in as few as 4 weeks.
  • Cellar Master - terrific line of light, fruity wines (only 6% alcohol) with a sweeter taste... absolutely refreshing for summertime drinking!

With few exceptions (i.e. Port and Ice Wine styles), each type of wine kit described above will produce 23 liters of wine (about 30 - 750 ml bottles).

We've provided charts to better describe these wines, with each chart depicting taste, aroma, and extra ingredients. The charts are grouped according to type of wine (red or white) and brands. For instance, Cellar Classic (CC) and Vino del Vida (VDV) brands appear in a common chart, while Cru Select Gold (CSG), Cru Select Platinum (CSP), and Grand Cru (GC) are shown in another. grapestompers.com would like to thank RJ Spagnols for providing this information.

Cellar Classic and Vino del Vida Wine Kits
stocked by grapestompers.com

KEY:

  • VDV - Vino del Vida
  • CC - Cellar Classic
  • x / y - where two numbers are separated by a slash, the first number represents the range for either oak, body, or sweetness for the first wine (VDV); the second number represents the range for the second wine (CC).
  • Y / N - where indications of "yes" and "no" are separated by a slash means one variety of red wine kit comes with elderberries (Y), while the other does not (N).
  • Oak ranges from 1 (light) to 5 (heavy)
  • Body ranges from 1 (light) to 5 (full)
  • Sweetness ranges from 0 (dry) to 5 (sweet)
  • All wines can be sweetened to taste following fermentation
  • All scales based on finished (fermented all the way to dryness) wines

Type

Variety and Description

Elderberries

Oak

Body

Sweet

W h i t e  W i n e s

VDV

Bordailles Blanc™ (White Bordeaux) - A dry, medium-bodied, French-style white wine with citrus and herbal notes, and medium oak.

Confused by the numbers? See key above.

2

3

0

VDV

Bourgeron Blanc™ (White Burgundy) - Crisp and elegant, aromas of apple and pear are layered with buttery notes and a long dry finish.

 

 

3

0

VDV
CC

Chamblaise™ (Chablis) - A flavorful blend of Chenin Blanc and French Colombard, this easy-drinking wine is soft, with a fruity aroma.

 

 

2

0

VDV
CC

Chardonnay - Our version of this classic is clean and crisp, with rich, toasted oak flavors and a hint of apples and pears.

 

2

3

0

VDV
CC

Chardonnay/Semillon - The ripe melon fruitiness of Semillon blended with crisp, rich Chardonnay makes this white wine slightly buttery with hints of honey, vanilla, and toasted oak.

 

2/3

3

0

VDV
CC

Chenin Blanc - Refreshingly crisp and dry, with subtle floral notes and a hint of fruit.

 

 

2

0

Type

Variety and Description

Elderberries

Oak

Body

Sweet

VDV

French Colombard - A light, dry, floral wine with subtle notes of honey and fruit.

 

 

2

0

VDV

Fumé Blanc - This smoky white marries Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon producing a dry, lightly oaked wine, with a soft, herbal bouquet.

 

2

3

0

VDV
CC

Gewürztraminer - Typically aromatic, off dry and rich with the character of tropical fruit, medium-bodied Gewürztraminer is the perfect match for spicy foods.

 

 

4

0-1

VDV

Ice Wine Style - A richly sweet dessert wine with a luscious, apricot-peach aroma and smooth, honeyed-fruit flavor.

 

 

5+

5++

VDV
CC

Johannisberg Riesling - Germany's finest grape; dry, fruity and well balanced, with hints of peach and apricot.

 

 

3

0-1

VDV

Liebfraumilch - A delicately dry German-style wine with a light fruity flavor. Its lower alcohol content makes it ideal for picnics and lunches.

 

 

1

0

Type

Variety and Description

Elderberries

Oak

Body

Sweet

VDV

Musette™ - An aromatic, German-style wine that is soft and spicy.

 

 

2

0-1

VDV

Niersteiner - A soft, crisp, dry white wine with just a hint of fruit. This light-bodied wine is perfect with light meals.

 

 

1

0

VDV
CC

Piesporter - A light, round wine - with the soft, honeyed-fruit of Johannisberg Riesling.

 

 

2

0-1

CC

Ruisseau Blanc™ - Made from Chardonnay, this subtle, medium-bodied wine features a clean flavor and crisp finish. Goes great with cheese!

 

 

3

0

VDV
CC

Sauvignon Blanc - This white is known for its grassy, herbal aromas and green fruit character, producing fine, dry, refreshing wines.

 

 

3

0

VDV

Verdicchio - A delicate aromatic wine with a clean, crisp flavor and hint of fruit and almonds.

 

 

3

0

Type

Variety and Description

Elderberries

Oak

Body

Sweet

CC

Vidal Ice Wine Style - This nectar is full of peach and tropical fruit with a perfectly balanced, honey-like sweetness.

 

 

5+

5++

VDV
CC

White Zinfandel (blush) - A light wine with a delicate pink hue, strawberry aroma, and soft, slightly fruity taste.

 

 

2

0-1

 
R e d  W i n e s

Type

Variety and Description

Elderberries

Oak

Body

Sweet

VDV
CC

Bergamais™ (Beaujolais) - A youthful, fruity and refreshing wine with a juicy aroma. Best served slightly chilled.

N/Y

1/0

2

0

VDV

Bordailles Rouge™ (Red Bordeaux) - A medium-bodied, full-flavored wine with black currant character, subtle oak and a slight, earthy bouquet.

 

1

3

0

VDV
CC

Bourgeron Rouge™ (Red Burgundy) - Bourgeron is traditionally a soft, light, fruity, easy-drinking wine, emphasizing fresh berry flavors.

N/Y

2/0

3/5

0

VDV
CC

Cabernet Sauvignon - Prized for its depth of flavor and aroma, it boasts a cherry-currant flavor with herbal undertones, nicely rounded with oak.

 

3

3

0

VDV
CC

Cabernet/Merlot - The soft character of Merlot is the perfect foil for Cabernet's intensity, resulting in a smooth, lightly oaked wine, with the fullness of ripe berries.

 

2

3

0

VDV
CC

Cabernet/Shiraz - This blend marries the firm flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon with Shiraz, creating a lush, full red wine, nicely rounded with oak.

Y

3/4

4

0

Type

Variety and Description

Elderberries

Oak

Body

Sweet

VDV
CC

Chianti - Native to the Tuscany region of Italy, this luscious wine is admired for its rich, velvety fruitiness, subtly accented with oak.

 

1

2

0

VDV

Domaine des Brumes™ - The taste and aroma of soft, ripe berries define this medium-bodied wine.

Y

 

3

0

CC

Grande Shiraz - This massive wine bursts with ripe berries and bold layers of oak. Its incredibly rich, deep color and full body explode with jammy, vibrant fruit.

 

4

5

0

CC

Grande Vieux Chateau du Roi™ - The intense aroma of this BIG red features a complex melange of ripe cherries, blackberries, and bell peppers.

Y

1

5

0

VDV

Jermillon™ - Medium-bodied, smooth and elegant, this wine combines the flavors of berries, dried fruit and oak.

 

2

3

0

VDV
CC

Merlot - This supple wine has a soft, full flavor delicately laced with oak to enhance its characteristic fruitiness.

 

1/3

3

0

Type

Variety and Description

Elderberries

Oak

Body

Sweet

VDV
CC

Pinot Noir - The wine is delicate, yet rich in complexity, with a warm, oakey flavor.

 

1/4

3

0

CC

Premium Port - Deep ruby-red Premium Port smolders with bold aromas and flavors of black cherries and blackberries. Perfect after dinner.

 

2

5+

5++

VDV
CC

Red Zinfandel - Grown in California for the past 130 years, it is soft - sometimes spicy - with a fruity characteristic and a hint of oak.

N/Y

3

4/3

0

CC

Rosso Grande™ - An intense wine, it boasts a deep ruby-garnet color and spicy oak aroma. Bursting with vibrant flavors of ripe berries and black cherries, Rosso Grande is a dry, powerful wine with with finesse and elegance.

 

3

5

0

VDV
CC

Shiraz - Shiraz's tiny grapes produce a rich, dark and robust wine, combining notes of warm berries, fresh pepper and oak.

 

2/4

4

0

VDV
CC

Valpolicella - This refreshing, lighter Italian-style red has a delicately fragrant and fruity bouquet and rich texture.

N/Y

1/0

3

0

VDV

Vieux Château du Roi™ - A classic, full-bodied red wine that is deep in color, carrying a warm nicely rounded bouquet of ripe berry fruit.

N/Y

0/1

4

0

 

Cru Select and Grand Cru Wine Kits
stocked by grapestompers.com

KEY:

  • CS - Cru Select
  • GC - Grand Cru
  • Oak ranges from L (light) to M (medium) to H (heavy)
  • Body ranges from 1 (light) to 5 (full)
  • Sweetness ranges from 0 (dry) to 5 (sweet)
  • All wines can be sweetened to taste following fermentation
  • All scales based on finished (fermented all the way to dryness) wines

Type

Variety and Description

Oak

Body

Sweet

W h i t e  W i n e s

CS

Chardonnay - This queen of white wines is very dry and tart, reminiscent of green apples. Gracefully full-bodied, aging will truly enhance this wonderful wine.

H

4

0

GC

Gewürztraminer - Extremely spicy in flavor and aroma, this wine offers a frontal attack on your taste buds. Well-aged, it becomes truly distinctive.

 

2

0

CS

Melon de Bourgeron™ - Also known as Pinot Blanc, the fresh and crisp aromas of apple and peach fill your nose, while the wine shows dry with good acidity and a long lingering palate.

M

2

0

GC

Pinot Chardonnay - A full-bodied wine with crisp, green apple bouquet and hearty deep flavor. One of the finest wines on the market if you value depth.

H

3

0

Type

Variety and Description

Oak

Body

Sweet

GC

Pinot Gris - Also known as Pinot Grigio. Dry with overtones of green melon leading to a crisp, clean finish. A bouquet of honey and herbs completes the experience.

M

2

0

GC

Riesling - Clean, crisp and slightly fruity, this German-style wine is fruity, flavorful with an intense aroma.

 

 

 

GC

Soave (Italian style) - Light and delicate, with a slight nutty flavor, you will enjoy the perfect balance of fresh fruit and crisp acidity. This wine is best consumed young.

 

3

0

GC

Zinfandel Blush - With just a hint of rosé, this light Zinfandel is fruity, refreshing and easy drinking. Reminiscent of candied raspberries as it rolls across the tongue. Do not age.

 

2

0

 
R e d  W i n e s

Type

Variety and Description

Oak

Body

Sweet

CS

Amarone - Unique to the Valpolicella region of Italy, our Amarone is packed with rich raspberry, blackberry and cassis flavors. Deep and dark, the finish is long and full of tannins.

H

4

0

GC Cabernet Franc - This wine has an inviting plum colour and the flavour and aroma is complex with plum, bell pepper, tar and toasted coconut. The oaky, fruity mouth is smooth with mild tannins, creating a pleasant finish. Try it with mild sausages, roasts or grilled Mediterranean vegetables.

Not
rated

Not
rated

Not
rated

GC

Chat Dormant™ - A dark, rich, full-bodied wine so smooth it's like liquid velvet. Hints of plum and licorice in the bouquet lead on to dry, intense flavors of raspberry and strawberry.

L

4

0

GC

Couteau Sur Mer™ - This well-balanced Claret-style wine is both rich and complex. Soft on the palate, it tastes of plum and black currant, with a hint of chocolate.

H

3

0

GC Malbec - This almost black grape produces a rustic, medium-bodied red wine. The wine has a soft, rich texture, silky tannins, and flavour filled with ripe plums, currants, cherries and red berries while the nose has a hint of vanilla. Best served with hearty meats such as beef and lamb.

Not
rated

Not
rated

Not
rated

GC

Petite Sirah - This rich, extremely dark wine has a plum flavor. Due to high tannins, this wine will age gracefully for longer periods of time.

M

3

0

CS

Sangiovese (Italian style) - If you like the subtlety of Merlot, you will love Sangiovese. An abundance of cherry and raspberry flavors fill the mouth. The finish is clean and pleasant, yet slightly sweet as a result of the tannin and wood sugars.

L

4

0

 

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