Soprano's Social Club
When one first hears of “Soprano’s Social Club,” it’s easy to envision a checkered-tablecloth-covered table outside a nondescript business where guys like Tony Soprano, Paulie, and Christopher sit to enjoy cigars and discuss family business. And although Sarasota’s own Soprano’s Social Club—located at 2120 Gulf Gate Drive—revels in its mystery and “underground” wine club reputation, the story behind the bar is much more interesting.
It’s no coincidence Soprano’s is only a few doors down from TheWineToBuy.com, an affordable and fully stocked wine distribution center owned by Mitch Soffer, who also happens to run the social club and prepare tastings for the select few lucky enough to snag tickets. With the help of his daughter, Stephanie Soffer, Mitch envisions a place focused on fun and socializing, free from the pretension often associated with fine wines.
“When it gets down to the brass tacks, it’s really a fun way to learn,” says Mitch. “We’re a social club. It’s a night out, we’re having fun, and sometimes people don’t even realize they’re learning something in the process.”
As for what happens behind the tinted door and windows, you can expect an array of tastings, ranging from wine reps pouring their favorite varietals to themed events like Ladies’ Night—all with wines expertly handpicked by Mitch himself. And the accompanying food is not left on the back burner.
“Since we don’t have a kitchen, we have to be creative,” says Stephanie. “With the tastings, we’ll bring out light bites—think charcuterie, shrimp cocktail, maybe some grapes and nuts. Other times, we’ve had a food truck, Tralia—right here in Gulf Gate—come by one night and set up a tent and their pizza oven right out front, so people could order from them and bring it in. We’ve had an Italian food truck come boasting a full menu, which you could order from and bring back in and pair with the food.”
They’ve also lured in some local heavy hitters: “Mitch works with the chef and will see the menu in advance and then pair each menu item being served with a wine,” she adds. “We’ve had Joe DiMaggio Jr.—chef and owner of Café BarBosso—come in and do a tasting. We’ll do another one with him when he’s back in town.”
As for what you’ll be tasting, that can depend on a few factors. Soprano’s offers vendor tastings, where winemakers come in and show off their vinos; food pairings, with wine that Mitch picks out; cellar tastings (where Mitch grabs the more premier bottles to share), and special events.
And if you’re worried about limited selection, you can put those fears to rest. “We’ve done tastings where you can’t even pick a winner because they’re all so good. Usually there’s a standout, but it’s great when there’s no clear winner,” says Mitch?. “And sometimes we’ll do tastings that are a few hundred bucks per person, but you’re tasting a thousand dollars’ worth of wine.”
Indeed, Mitch’s cellar is fully stocked with everything from sub-$20 bottles to plus-$500 rarities. And word is spreading.
“Everything is ticketed in advance. You can’t just walk in and say ‘Hey, I’m here for the tasting.’ As soon as we create that event, tickets are sold out within 24–48 hours.” Stephanie tells us. One reason for this is that the bar can only accommodate 14 people comfortably, with a table in the front that seats 8–10. If there’s a standing-room tasting, a few more connoisseurs can join, maxing out at around 30 people.
As for what to expect in the future, it’s a lot. “This fall/winter season, we are looking to host one or two tastings per week. The most recent tasting we had, we had five wine suppliers, each who brought three wines to taste, so customers got to try up to 15 wines that night. That was so successful and so much fun, we will be hosting that again. We also plan on starting themed food/wine pairings like ‘Chili, Cornbread and Chianti’ night,” Stephanie tells us.
So, how can you get in on the action? “To find out about our tastings, email sopranossocialclub@gmail.com and make the subject line “Please add me to the Sopranos email list.” They also post their events on Facebook and Instagram.
As for any plans to open up on more days, don’t count on it right away. “People think we’re some kind of speakeasy or members-only club because we’re not open all day. But I like that,” says Mitch. “We’re not open seven days a week, but I like keeping it low-key. I like the underground thing.”
Want to experience it for yourself without FOMO? We’ve got you covered. Soprano’s is doing a tasting exclusively for Edible readers on October 27. Don’t wait to get your tickets—like uncorked wine, this deal has a shelf life.
