I think brewing beer at home has caused me to actually taste and experience beer (homebrew and commercial) in a much more specific way. Before I homebrewed, beer was either 'good' or 'bad'. Now I am learning details about the styles; I can even pick out certain hop flavors in brews. I appreciate what it takes to make certain styles - some are much harder than others.
I am starting to explore wines now. I've thrown together several batches of Ed Wort's apfelwein because it is dirt cheap, simple, and good (really a cider I think, but wine-like). I am also experimenting with meads (my wife doesn't like many wines but she likes a moderately sweet mead). I am not a wine connoisseur by any stretch, but I do enjoy dry Reislings and Merlots and I think that may be my next big endeavor, to make a really nice grape wine.
Beer brewing rewards patience with good beer, and winemaking even more so. Starting out as an impatient newbie, a few weeks can seem like forever. When you learn that maybe a couple of months might be better, your mindset changes. When you can master the patience to be willing to make a product that may take years to mature, I think that is a good thing. We live in a world where people expect 24/7 instant gratification. It's easier to be patient with many things (even people) when you can accept that good things come to those who wait.