Taking after traffickers with sales of fine wines
Wine for wildlife: NBA Hall of Famer Yao Ming, who has been making wine under the Yao Family Wines label for several years now, opened a St. Helena tasting room last spring. Now he’s using that wine for wildlife conservation efforts.
The basketball star-turned-vintner is collaborating with the nonprofit WildAid to end illegal trade in elephant ivory, rhino horns and shark fins around the world.
Yao, who has been involved with WildAid’s shark fin efforts for more than a decade, has dedicated 1,000 bottles of the 2014 Yao Family Wines Napa Crest Red Wine ($100) to help raise funds, increase awareness and combat the illegal ivory and horn trade.
Bottle labels feature elephant, rhino or shark images shot by wildlife photographer Chrystina Geagan. The wine won’t be released until November, but you can order it online now at www. yaofamilywines.com
Putting for wine: In California’s Gold Country, you can turn your golf skills into bottles of wine. The fourth annual Wine Barrel Open takes place on Nov. 3 at Angel Camp’s Greenhorn Creek Resort, where 22 teams will compete for the grand prize: 32 bottles of Calaveras County wines. Greenhorn Creek’s Vintner Members donated barbera, syrah, zinfandels and other varieties.
The golf tournament is open to all golfers ($150) and includes a wine tasting reception and dinner. Nongolfers are also invited to the tasting and dinner ($60); see www.greenhorncreek.com