Wine Goddesses uncork for breast cancer
By Mimi Maddock Mimi@TheColumbiaStar.com

Photo by Mimi Maddock Pictured are part of the 240 Wine Goddesses who met at the S.C. State Museum November 5, 2007, to taste wines and delectables to benefit The Best Chance Network and the Palmetto Health Comprehensive Breast Center. The group raised over $6,000. See Wine, page 3

The Fall Wine Goddess Event was held at the State Museum November 5- 7 pm to benefit the Best Chance Network and the Palmetto Health Comprehensive Breast Centers. The event was sponsored by Gervais & Vine, Mr. Friendly's New Southern Café, and Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar.

According to Kristian Niemi, part owner/chef of Gervais & Vine, Mr. Friendly's New Southern Café, and Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar, the Wine Goddess event began three years aga as a way to say thank you to his female patrons. It was a women only wine and tapas event to benefit women's local charities or children's charities. The past beneficiaries have included S.C. Victims Assistance Network, SisterCare, Reach to Recovery, National Youth Advocacy, Parenting Partners, Midlands Sexual Trauma Services, American Heart Associations Go Red for Women's Heart Care, and more.

Kristian Niemi, part owner/chef of Gervais & Vine, Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe, and Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar, raffles off prizes to give to lucky wine goddesses.

Niemi said they made The Wine Goddess a 501c(3) charity fundraising company to attract corporate sponsors to help offset the costs of holding the events. The goal is to be able to give every penny of ticket sales to the charities. In the future they will be holding events in Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, and Charlotte.

Monday night's event was the biggest to date with 240 Wine Goddesses all adorned in black Wine Goddess T- shirts with a pink ribbon on the front and the words Wine Goddess.

Toward the end of the event Niemi had Goddesses pull ticket stubs from his huge wine glass. Those with lucky numbers won prizes from a small bottle of wine to a huge bottle of wine. The event ended with a final number being read. The winner is the new Wine Goddess Queen.