W. Blake Gray

Best Online Wine Columnist in the World! 2013 Roederer Award in that category, and they stopped giving out that award immediately afterward. In perpetuity!

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

I believe in voting by mail but ballots should received by Election Day so we can have an accurate result within 24 hours like they do in civilized places.

For a tech-savvy state like California, our electoral system is an embarrassment.

[Lee Edwards @terronk]

I’m sorry but you need to pay attention to Insurance Commissioner now.

The only far leftist to have a good night on Tuesday is one of the most disastrous. Jane Kim, with no experience in insurance herself, would plunge California even deeper into an insurance crisis.

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

@kane People always think there are more far left voters in California than there actually are. If the DSA vote had been a bit larger, Steyer could have snuck in. The far left is proving with Platner that they'll literally vote for anyone who speaks their language.

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

@kane I see his logic. It's borne out by county results. The left lane was wide open. There was no true DSA-type candidate. Steyer won the most left-leaning counties. I doubt he would have done as well running as a standard Democrat.

https://t.co/Pxp5cfYi3q

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

Interesting county-by-county chart. Billionaire businessman Steyer won almost all the most left-leaning counties.

GOP's Hilton won the most counties, including Napa.

Becerra did very well in LA and the not-as-far-left SF Bay Area counties.

https://t.co/Pxp5cfYi3q

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

This site will show you the Mark Rothko painting that is most appropriate for the weather today where you are.

This reminds me of the goofy Internet of the 1990s, which I miss.

https://t.co/FCkIZTQCDp

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

@CMMwine Thanks, useful context.

I haven't had a bottle of Martinelli's since I discovered wine, but I did like it before that.

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

I don't follow non-alcoholic beverages so this news came as a surprise.

You'd think Martinelli's would be doing well; it's a no-alcohol sparkling beverage that can be a wine substitute. And unlike no-alcohol wine, it's actually pretty good.

https://t.co/CUUjqKWfyu

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

Hurray, the New York Times finally realizes legal immigrants exist!

The H-2A visa program isn't perfect, but for all the hand-wringing here, farmworkers here illegally are much more vulnerable to exploitation.

https://t.co/dO5AShnFjO

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

@MikeVeseth I also wouldn't be surprised if they simply rename the facility after Daou.

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

@MikeVeseth You'd think TWE would keep Beringer operating because of its prominence on the Napa wine-tasting trail. But I'm not privy to their data. The winery/tours must be expensive, with many employees. In these times, I wouldn't be shocked if they closed it.

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

@mviski @StatisticUrban Oooh, thanks for reminding me. I had forgotten that Pelosi wanted to bequeath the seat. Maybe it's as simple as that.

Chan is pretty far left of Pelosi and not well-respected in SF, but personal grudges matter.

https://t.co/lfHwl6dMyT

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

@jakehalloran1 @StatisticUrban I read that in SF Standard, and I know politics can be very personal and maybe Pelosi just doesn't like Weiner. BUT her whole career has been one of political calculation. I think there has to be something more.

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

Every election day I reminisce about when I worked at a company in Tokyo and wondered why there were sound trucks in the street, and one of my colleagues said, "Blake-san, today Japan has a big election." Except he said "r" instead of "l."

Still chuckling years later.

[Nate Silver @NateSilver538]

The fact that California elections often can't be resolved for weeks is kind of insane and not common in other electoral systems around the world.

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

@CMMwine I don't know about sports betting per se but I think the fact that people don't hang out in casual small groups anymore is a factor. Do you have data about that?

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

Interesting column posits that online sports betting is reducing wine consumption, because people stay home and watch games rather than getting together in sports bars.

I think that must hurt beer and spirits more, but I can see the logic.

https://t.co/1Rw7o4rnyg

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

Heard on @kexp: Margo Cilker wishes she had all the wine in the world.

I get that.

https://t.co/TZ7VcTTf1y

[W. Blake Gray @wblakegray]

Kudos to @EricAsimov for continuing to find and recommend good wines under $20. In journalism terms, this is great reader service.

https://t.co/BVYiWQUh8L