Yao Family Wines Debuts Inaugural Vintage Of NAPA CREST

Yao Family Wines, the Napa Valley winery founded by humanitarian and former NBA star Yao Ming, has announced the release of its inaugural vintage of NAPA CREST 2010 Napa Valley Red Wine with a suggested retail price of $48. Sourced from a selection of premium vineyards throughout Napa Valley, NAPA CREST is a unique red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

"NAPA CREST is meant to represent the hallmark of this world-class wine region, Napa Valley," said Tom Hinde, Yao Family Wines President and Director of Winemaking. "By blending from prestigious hillside vineyards, with reputations for excellent fruit, we can capture the diversity and completeness of the Valley. It's a winemaking interpretation of each changing vintage, and the 2010 NAPA CREST is loaded with character and personality."

Yao Ming, Founder and Proprietor of Yao Family Wines added, "We make our Napa Valley wines for everyone to share with family and friends. With the addition of NAPA CREST to our portfolio, we have introduced a premium product at an affordable price, offering wine enthusiasts another opportunity to do just that."

Three of the five classic Bordeaux varietals are blended for NAPA CREST to provide texture, color intensity, flavor and tannin balance, and each variety in each block is farmed separately to achieve maximum flavors and ripeness. The wines are aged exclusively in 100% French Oak barrels for at least 16 months and individual barrels from each lot are hand selected by taste for the final blend.

NAPA CREST features the power of Cabernet Sauvignon, the softness of Merlot and the tannins and deep color of Petit Verdot, blending the complexity of each varietal into one complete wine. This approach to winemaking varies from the previously released Yao Ming wines which highlight one varietal and reflect the uniqueness of Cabernet Sauvignon each year from a precise location.

The NAPA CREST 2010 Napa Valley Red Wine is available on the Yao Family Wines website www.yaofamilywines.com and will be in select wine shops and restaurants across the U.S. early next year.