Once you are successful at making a homemade wine, not from a kit and have bottled it, what is the average shelf life? MY first wine I tried was made with white grapes and didn't go so well. I am now experimenting with different fruit wines and am seeing better results! I would just like to know how long they should mature in the bottle and if they need to be drank within a certain time frame. I am becoming addicted to this hobby and don't want to end up with too much sitting on the shelf! Not looking to make vinegar here!