From the basketball court to the tasting room? That's the latest move from recently retired NBA star Yao Ming, who has started his own Napa Valley wine company: Yao Family Wines. This isn't the first venture into the business world for 31-year-old Ming, who also owns the pro basketball team Shanghai Sharks.
Under the brand name Yao Ming, Yao Family Wines has released its first wine — a 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — which will be immediately available for distribution in China. Capitalizing on the regions' wine boom, Ming's label intends to cater to the top tier of the Chinese market. The first 5,000-case production is priced at 1,775 yuan (US $289) per bottle.