This is a week of comfort, beautiful surroundings, good company and of course fine food and wine. Your holiday begins with a convivial dinner with Mark and team to discuss the week ahead. Each morning after an organic breakfast, there will be 2-3 hours in the kitchen where the emphasis will be on creating the traditional dishes of the Cucina Romana - all wonderfully simple dishes using only the finest local organic seasonal ingredients - bursting with flavour. Lunch is a leisurely meal of what you’ve prepared. The afternoons and most evenings are yours to relax, go for walks, cycle rides - Sabine is perfect walking and cycling country. Horse riding, golf and swimming pools are available nearby. There are simple local restaurants to dine at at night. Non-cooking companions are very welcome too. Arrivals PM. A wonderful introduction to the food of Sabina and wine's of Italy , as the group convenes very informally for dinner. Mark will discuss the plans for the week ahead. The first lesson of the week is underway at La Torretta, Casperia with Jennifer and Maurizio. An introduction to simple country cuisine. After breakfast we take the excellent train into Rome and meet our guide , the charismatic, slightly eccentric yet entertaining Tris , who will take us through the treasure's of Rome, and then on to an excellent Roman trattoria near the Pantheon for lunch. Lesson No 2 ~ evening wine tasting followed by a light supper. The evening wine tasting is in a restored 15century Orotorio with wine and olive oil expert, Johnny Madge. After years of organising tastings, talking to producers and presenting Italian wine's and Olive oil (He was invited by Slow Food to present a tasting of Sabine olive oil in London's 'La Fromagerie') Johnny has developed a deep understanding of the olive oil and wine worlds and has found the best money can buy. Lesson No 3 followed by lunch Hosted in Santo Pietro by Angelina and Lina, two Sabine ladies who have been making Sabina's specialities since childhood. You will make fresh pasta by hand, followed by lunch. Lesson No 4 followed by Lunch Home-style cooking with Paula at her country house Gusto Al Borgo in Casperia. Today is a free day. Why not visit Rome, Tivoli or Orvieto? Wonderful Orvieto is only an hour away, an important wine centre for centuries. There any number of cantinas and fine restaurants in this beautiful walled medieval city, the Duomo is a rival to anything in Italy, including Florence’s ! Sabina is full of historic medieval hill top villages for you to explore, nearby Farfa abbey, (minutes) was once of the most important abbeys in Europe and the abbey itself reflects this, the frescoes are simply stunning - Jamie Oliver filmed here on his tour of ‘Jamies Italy'. Visits to local cheese makers, olive oil producers and vineyards are all available in Sabina. Depart NB. The itinerary is subject to change without notice - simply due to availability of staff and location. 2008 Dates Mar 28, Apr 25, May 9, May 23, Jun 6, Jun 27, Jul 11, Aug 1, Sep 12, Sep 26, Oct 10, Oct 24