Music and wine are a perfect combination. I had the most wonderful time experiencing the best of both at Rock and Rosso with Constantine Maroulis and Sandra Zotti, held at the beautiful James Ward Mansion in Westfield, NJ, on Saturday, January 12, 2019.
Constantine Maroulis has been one of my favorites ever since his appearance on American Idol Season 4. He was one of the first true rockers on the show, and turned his appearance on the show into a successful career, especially on the Broadway stage. He received a TONY award nomination for his role in “Rock of Ages,” and was critically acclaimed for his role in “Jekyll & Hyde.” He’s currently involved with several film, TV, and stage projects, notably a starring role in David Shire’s new musical “Our Table,” and is working on a new album, “Until I’m Wanted,” which is scheduled for release in 2019. He told me that he’s very excited about the songs and the recording process is going really well!
The host for the evening was wine educator and Certified Italian Wine Specialist Sandra Zotti. In addition to being a wine expert and event planner, she’s an exciting and engaging entertainer, and an accomplished pianist. She kicked off the evening with a memorable performance, and the promise of a full concert later this year. From there, she presented an amazing selection of Italian wines, and her passion and knowledge of wine was evident. She throws a great party!
The opening act was John Ward, who dazzled on the piano and showed off the chops that have made him an in-demand songwriter.
Constantine’s set included previews of a few new songs that will appear on “Until I’m Wanted,” and a selection of fun covers that showed off his incredible voice and stage presence. He’s a cool person and a fabulous performer. It was a really fun show and everyone had a great time.
This was the third edition of the wine and music pairing Sandra has presented at the James Ward Mansion and it was a huge success. I can’t wait to attend the next one and plan to become a regular at her events.
Thank you to Sandra, Constantine, and everyone who worked to put this event together for an amazing evening!
