you can keep an unopened bottle of wine bottle for a pretty long time and an opened bottle of wine for a while, meaning it doesn't become toxic to drink. but speaking for the palate, it tastes pretty crappy in a day or two for white, three for red...tops. corking it and putting the fridge will help, but not much. you can still cook with it though.
i recommend...as the other peeps did...just trying some out at a tasting, and deciding what you like.
i'd also recommend trying some different beers, too. i used to hate the taste of beer as well until i realized they don't all taste like miller and bud. there are some very interesting flavors out there. there's even barley wine, it's like a cross between port and ale.
hell, i didn't even used to drink, but my kids have driven me to it.
i might as well enjoy what i'm sippin'.
my mom has a magnet on her fridge that i love. it says: i love to cook with wine. sometimes i even put it in the food.