Winemakers' Drinking Habits

While I browse here often, I usually post only on Rogov's forum given that my drinking is limited to only kosher wines but I thought this question may be relevant here and I'd appreciate any insights you may have.

A few posting on other threads by varied wine makers got me thinking about their drinking habits. While we know (or at least hope) that winemaker's taste different wines from all around the world to learn and gain perspective, I was curious whether folks (participating wine makers or otherwise) had any insight into which wines they usually drank when they were "off the clock" (as opposed to taste). While many wine makers I know tend to drink mostly their own wines, the primary reason seemed to be economic (i.e. their own wines were available to them cheaper than others) but I was wondering if there were other reasons (brand loyalty, genuine preference for the wine they were making on their own, etc.)?

Thanks,
Yossie

Yossie,
I was a wine enthusiast and collector for over forty years before I became a winemaker. I drink what I always have and that is a very eclectic mix from just about everywhere.
I do drink a good bit of my own wine both because of availability and preference.
But I think of myself as a wine lover first and a winemaker second.
Bust, Jim

I don't yet have enough production to have to worry about how to answer your question. I am also still real early in the learning curve on wine making so I am sampling a lot of wines from all over to try to understand the differences in the field and winery and how that applies to my little hobby.

Have seen this question come up on other BBs and found it interesting that a good portion of winemakers answered with anything but what they make. Seems that after the work day is over, the would much rather have something other than what they make.

I started making wine about 35 years ago, with my objective being to make wines as good as those I can buy. Like Jim, I consider myself a wine lover first. I would say that about 1/3 of the commercial wines in my collection are ones that are similar to the wines I make, many local. These are like benchmarks for my wines and let me know how I'm doing. I go to several tastings every year, many blind and enjoy them. The rest of my store-bought wines are ones that I enjoy and can't replicate in my home wine making, because I limit myself to locally grown grapes: Vouvray, Bordeaux, Cal Cabs, Gewurtz, etc.

Beer!

Winemaker's drinking habits? Heavily and often. Actually, the fact is that I'd be called a binge drinker, since I drink mostly on Friday and Saturday. The rest of the time, if wine touches my lips, it is largely just tasting of samples, with spitting. On occasion, if I taste something particularly compelling, I might be tempted to pour a glass. In my personal life, I drink other's wines as long as they cost me nothing- otherwise, it's my wine only. Beer is a different story, since both my oldest son (who lives at home currently) and I drink beer into the week, and my daughters and wife like to taste it, so there's more reason to purchase something- after all, beer generally costs less.