“Life is too short to drink bad/cheap wine” is a saying that’s been printed on T-shirts and other items that are often sold at wineries (that sell good/expensive wine). The German saying—“Das Leben ist zu kurz, um schlechten Wein zu trinken”—has been cited in print since at least 1957. “Life is too short to drink poor whiskey” has been cited in print since 1867.
 
The Wollersheim Winery of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, has sold a “Life’s too short to drink bad wine” T-shirt since at least 1976.
 
“Life is too short to stuff a mushroom” was written by British author, journalist and reluctant cook Shirley Conran in 1975. “Life is too short for fake butter, cheese or people” has been cited in print since 2012.
     
“Life is too short to drink the house wine” is a related saying.
   
 
12 June 1867, San Antonio (TX) Express, pg. 2:
A scribbler says life is too short to drink poor whiskey, or to make love to an ugly woman.
   
Google Books
Keine Angst vor Wort und Satz; der vergnügliche Sprachführer für jedes Büro
Author: Hans Rutishauser; Walter Winkler, of Zürich
Publisher: Zürich, Verlag des Schweizerischen Kaufmännischen Vereins
1957
Pg. 73:
Das Leben ist zu kurz, um schlechten Wein zu trinken.
 
Google News Archive
21 September 1976, Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, pt. 1, pg. 1, col. 3:
Life Too Short for Sour Grapes
Das leben ist zu kurz um schlechen wein zutrinken.
—Old German proverb.
By Ron LEGRO
Sentinel Staff Writer
Prairie du Sac, Wis.—Life is too short to drink bad wine, as the German saying goes.
 
Google Books
À la Vôtre
Volume 6
1976
Pg. 172:
The words on a tee shirt from a firm called The Jolly Vintner, a must for lovers of German wine: “Das Leben ist zu kurz um schlechten Wein zu trinken.” They are $3.99 from PO Box 102, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578.
   
Google Books
The Jug Wine Book
By Robert E. Burger
New York, NY: Stein and Day
1980
Pg. 137:
How about a T-shirt that proclaims “Life’s too short to drink bad wine”? Available for $3.50 from Wollersheim Winery, Highway 188, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin 53578.
       
New York (NY) Times
A NEW LIGHT IN THE SKY
By JOY HOROWITZ; Joy Horowitz is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.
Published: March 29, 1987
ON A DINGY BASEMENT office of the California Institute of Technology’s astronomy department in Pasadena, Christine Wilson has surrounded herself with symbols of her earthly passions: a volleyball schedule is taped on a wall near her desk; next to it, a cartoon about how falling in love is like having cooties. Tacked onto a bulletin board is a reminder that ‘‘Life Is Too Short to Drink Cheap Beer,’’ and hanging from a bookshelf is the red-and-white uniform of her Sweet Adeline quartet.
   
18 April 1987, Trenton (NJ) Evening Times, pg. B1, col. 1:
Bumper sticker seen in Princeton: “Life is too short to drink bad wine.”
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Life’s too short to drink cheap wine : a salute to friendship
Author: Cliff Hakim
Publisher: Seattle, Wash. : Classic Day Pub., 2004.
Edition/Format:  Book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Life’s too short to drink bad wine.
Publisher: Partridge Green : Ravette, 2007.
Series: Born to shop
Edition/Format:  Book : English
Summary: Part of the “Born to Shop” hardback gift book series, this book is for the female of the species. It is produced in a modern style of pastel watercolours.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Life’s too short—: to drink cheap beer : a reminiscence and guided tour to finding happiness and meaning in your life
Author: William Brandt
Publisher: Victoria, BC : Trafford, ©2007.
Edition/Format:  Book : Biography : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Life’s too short to drink bad wines : 100 wines for the discerning drinker
Author: Simon Hoggart
Publisher: London : Quadrille, 2009.
Edition/Format:  Book : English
Summary: Simon Hoggart has been wine correspondent of the UK’s Spectator magazine since 2001. He never writes for the wine expert, always for the enthusiastic layman, and he has an infectious pleasure in finding a delicious, reasonably priced bottle. Life’s Too Short to Drink Bad Wine is a highly eclectic and personal selection for everyone to enjoy.