Funds pour in as Yao Ming turns to crowdfunding for winery

Former National Basketball Association star Yao Ming is within reach of his goal to get $3 million from crowdfunding to expand his wine business.

Yao Family Wines started the financing campaign on March 2. The proceeds will go to build a visitor center in Napa Valley, California and a tasting room in Yao's hometown of Shanghai.

As of Wednesday, Yao had commitments for more than $2.77 million, or 93 percent of his goal, according to Crowdfunder, the website used by entrepreneurs to raise public funding.