Uncorking “The Sopranos”

Local wine enthusiasts got a little more “Bada Bing” in their bottles after stopping by Stew Leonard’s last Saturday afternoon.

Actor Steve Schirripa, aka “Bobby Bacala” from HBO’s “The Sopranos,” participated in a bottle signing for a line of specially branded wine tied in to the infamous cable show as part of the Carle Place retailer’s grand reopening series.

The signing was a part of Stew Leonard’s month-long grand reopening series, which will continue through May. The event also featured a free sampling of the red-and-black label along with cheese and crackers and some free pizza.

“We knew we were going to be reopening Stew Leonard’s at Carl Place and we wanted to do it with a big bang and who’s better than Steve Schirripa,” Meghan Bell, director of public relations of the wine retailer said. “He’s been a great friend to our organization and he’s a lot of fun.”

Instead of receiving an appearance fee, Schirripa opted to donate the money to charity.

“It gives people reason to come out and try our wine and help out a charity,” Mark Gonsalves, president and owner of Soprano Wines said.

Schirripa, who counts Stew Leonard as a friend, opted to give $4,000 to the CAAP child abuse prevention program.

“They give education and they teach kids what people should and shouldn’t do and shouldn’t be touched in a certain way,” Schirippa said of the charity. “They come out with puppets and it’s very educational and it really helps a lot of kids.”

April also happens to be child abuse awareness month.

“This went to the CAAP child abuse prevention program that I believe in very much. So I came out and I’ll sign bottles and they make a nice donation to my charity,” Schirripa said as he signed numerous wine bottles purchased by fans, also stopping to take photos with them.

The wine is imported from Italy by Vesuvio Import, named after a fictional restaurant in the cable-TV series and distributed by Duggan’s Distillers.

“I’m just promoting it and I’m doing this for charity, but I’m not part of the making of it,” Schirippa said, “I think it’s a good product and you know a lot of fans come out. A lot of people drink it, but a lot of people keep it as souvenirs.”

The mobster-branded wine is available as a Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and several shades of Chianti.

“Customers love the show, he couldn’t be friendlier or nicer about taking the time to sign everybody’s bottles and take photographs with fans and we just thought it was a good feel good event to accompany the store well,” Bell said of Schirippa.