You know it is a down economy when 7-Eleven comes out with its own wine for $3.99.

I don’t pay much attention to the absolute bottom of the wine price list, but it is the segment of the wine industry that is doing really well.  And I have to admit that doesn’t surprise me.   I personally have been drinking a fair amount of Black Box wines lately.  The Cabernet and the Shiraz are both pretty reasonable given their price.  Good values.

And, you have to admit, Two-buck Chuck (our ratings) is pretty popular.

But are we really ready for convenience store wine labels?  I guess time will tell, but alas I bet that we are.

I make interesting food all the time.  But I never keep track of the recipes.  What I liked, what I needed to make it that I do not usually have in my kitchen.  What wine went well with that venison stew.

Over at Cheap Talk, they have a great idea that I can’t believe I didn’t think of.  Just shoot your food - with you camera.  And email yourself the ingredients.  When you’re standing in the grocery, you can just break out your iPhone and pick up what you need.  Why didn’t I think of that?

Stephen Colbert apparently loved the recent paper that finds that 83% of people can not tell the difference between dog food and pate.

Great work by the authors - Robin Goldstein and John Bohannon.   And check out Robin’s new blog, Blind Taste.  It is worth a read.

This is not exactly wine related, but are things really so bad that JoS. A. Bank Clothiers is offering a “Risk-free suit”?

Yes, you heard it right, JoS. A. Bank is promising to return your money if you buy a suit during their current sale and then lose your job in the 4 months or so. Sure, things are tough.  We can confirm for you that advertising rates are falling through the floor.  But this bad?  Really?

These sure are troubling times.  The economy is in the toilet, jobs are being lost in massive waves, and people have started using the internet equivalent of the sandwich board asking for jobs.

Now more than ever (or at least since 1982), people are trying to be careful with their money.   And we think we can help.When I shop for anything these days, I tend to keep more to items I know.  I am less willing to take a risk on a brand I am unfamiliar with, because I just can’t waste money on something untested.

But I still do not have time to research a drink.  And I am going to buy wine, let’s face it.   Winescorecard can help with that - our recommendation engine helps to improve the quality of your wine selections even when you are buying an unfamiliar brand or varietal.

So get better wine for you money and learn from your past mistakes.  In this economy, we can all use a little help getting more for our hard work.