Introducing Yao Ming's New Wine
People often say a wine has legs. One new Napa Valley certainly wine does, but in a very different way.
The recently retired Chinese NBA superstar Yao Ming, who stands at 7 feet 6 inches tall , launched Yao Ming Cabernet Sauvignon in December 2011 in China.
The wine is available in the U.S., but the web site asks customers to purchase just one bottle per order. Just 1,500 cases of the 2009 were produced. Yao Family Wines said the grapes for the inaugural run of the wine are sourced from a very "prestigious" Napa Valley winery. At a $170 per bottle, this wine isn't an everyday indulgence, but it might be the perfect addition to your March Madness bracket.
Yao Ming is not the first professional athlete to put his or her name on a wine label. The Great One, Wayne Gretzky produces wine from the Niagara Region in Canada. Fellow Canadian, professional golfer Mike Weir offers six varietals produced from his Niagara winery.
The list goes on — quarterbacks like Drew Bledsoe and Joe Montana, and figure-skater Peggy Fleming — all produce or own wineries under their names.