Nicholas Johnson
We attended the SOMMDay School at Rooted Wine Bar inside Fleming’s in Tampa, and it could not have been a better experience. We booked through OpenTable and later realized it was their opening day for this class, which made the experience even more special. There were three of us, and we ended up being the only participants, which worked out perfectly. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted and guided to the bar by our two sommeliers, Stephen and Casey. We were immediately met with genuine smiles and a welcoming atmosphere. It was one of our birthdays, and they went above and beyond by bringing out a Happy Birthday sign along with four chocolate truffles and a candle. That extra touch set the tone right away and made the experience feel personal and thoughtful. Stephen and Casey truly made the experience stand out. Their humor, knowledge, and stories about each wine and its background kept everything engaging and approachable. When we tried appetizers after the class, they paired wines specifically to each of our individual palates. All three pairings were dialed in and somehow managed to be exactly what each of us enjoyed most, which was impressive and thoughtful. Stephen and Casey continued to spend time with us even after our tasting making us feel genuinely welcome rather than rushed out. This was our first visit, and they absolutely set the bar high. I cannot say enough good things about the experience or about Stephen and Casey. We will definitely be back.






