Mike Barrett

Aurora Wine Circle members John Ramaniuk (clockwise from front) Wayne Dodd, Nyal Hope, Bob Webb, Blaine Bonnar, Brian Douglas and Bob Jamieson.

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Amanda Persico

With more than a 1,000 different influences, grapes grown on the same vine don’t taste the same in the bottle.

Since 1973, members of the Aurora Wine Circle have picked their own grapes and made their own wine, which they say leaves commercial brands behind.

“When we compare the homemade and the commercial, ours are far and away better,” said Brian Douglas, the group’s president.

Members meet monthly and blind taste different wines, store bought and homemade.

This month, the group tasted different varieties of zinfandel wine. Zinfandel is made from a sweet, full-bodied red California grape with high alcohol content and a fruity aroma, Mr. Douglas said.

Mr. Douglas’ interest in wine started with a winemaking kit, a gift from a family member, that required him to add yeast to dehydrated grape juice to make the wine.

“That’s entry level wine-making,” he said. “I was looking for the next level of quality. There’s a more technical involvement when making wine from fresh grapes.”

In the past 20 years,  personal winemaking has evolved in terms of equipment and location, Mr. Douglas said.

The 1980s and ‘90s were all about red wines from abroad.

“That’s sad because there are a full variety of reds, whites and pinks (and) some of the world’s best are grown right here in Ontario,” he said.

The Aurora Wine Circle took home six silver and four bronze awards at the Amateur Wine Makers of Ontario competition earlier this year.

Each year, the group selects a particular crop, divides the grapes among members and each member creates his own wine. The group makes about eight or 10 batches a year.

“We use the same raw materials, but we each make it our own way,” Mr. Douglas said. “There’s no wine the same.

“We just control the taste and the level of quality. We put our own fingerprint on the wine.”

For more information about the Amateur Winemakers of Ontario, visit makewine.com