For years, wine professionals have been telling us when to drink that expensive bottle that we splurged on or were gifted (drink by this date or hold until that date). But what exactly are they referring to? Does wine eventually die? Is there a peak time to enjoy that baller bottle? It can be a bit dizzying but generally the life of a wine depends on a few factors, including vintage characteristics, place or origin, and how the wine was made. Was the growing season too hot or too cold? Did it rain too much, did it hail, or was it a perfect year? Where is the wine being made? What kind of soil composition are the vines in and which grapes are being used? Are these grapes even intrinsically destined to age as a wine? And lastly, how is the wine being made? Does the winemaker intend to see his or her wine age? Nice and confusing, huh?