88 | FORBES ASIA NOVEMBER 2016

T

he year 2016 has been a gratifying one for retired basketball legend Yao Ming.

Despite a career cut short by injuries, the 36-year-old former Houston Rock-

ets center—and eight-time All-Star—was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame

in September. It is also the year the Shanghai native’s California winery, Yao

Family Wines, put itself squarely on the map of Napa Valley by opening a chic

visitor’s center in the wine-tourist mecca of St. Helena.

Bankrolled in part by $2 million raised on CrowdFunder, Yao’s tasting room provides

new public visibility for his small-production, luxury-priced Cabernet Sauvignon blends,

Tall Drink of Wine

BY RICHARD NALLEY

Yao Ming scores 96 points but not on the basketball court.

Center of attention:

“We have so much

still to learn,” says

winemaker Yao Ming.

FORBES LIFE