In November 2011, global humanitarian, recently retired NBA star and future Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Yao Ming announced the establishment of his new Napa Valley winery: Yao Family Wines. His dream of creating a classic Napa Valley winery that would become a legacy for future generations of his family became a reality.
But the story really begins in 2004, when Yao Ming was still in the early stages of his NBA career. Yao’s Houston Rockets teammate Dikembe Mutombo taught him about a true Houston treasure: the Texas steakhouse. Over countless Texas-sized steak dinners, Dikembe introduced Yao to the magic of a great steak and wine pairing, and Yao became an aspiring wine aficionado.
