Winemaking can be a rewarding hobby, whether you make make a wine kit or start with your own fruit or grapes. You can make better wine as long as you realize the time investment of 2 to 4 months on average. Wine kits can have the wine in the bottle in 5 to 8 weeks. Traditional winemaking can take 6 months to a year, but the wait is well worth it. Most wines are better than the commercial wines you buy in the stores.