I'd recommend someplace casual with a lot of people--there's a good enoteca almost anywhere in town, and you could ask your wife to join you there when her event is done. If you're near the Spanish Steps, there's a place we went to a few times at the intersection of Condotti and Bocca di Leone. I never knew the name, but they had a lot of different wines by the glass, a great selection of antipasti, and a good attitude behind the bar (sit there, not at a table). I thought I could find the name tonight by doing a little research; it might be called L'Enoteca Antica, but I'm really not sure. There are good places in Campo di Fiori and Piazza Navona as well--have a few bites, enjoy a few sips, and soak up the energy!