3-Day Mediterranean Cooking & Wine Weekend in Ferguson Valley, Western Australia

The retreat runs for three days and two nights at Ferguson Valley Escape, a property in Crooked Brook, Western Australia. Each day has a cooking session built around Spanish dishes: you'll make paella from scratch, and a selection of tapas — think tortilla española, gambas al ajillo, pan con tomate, and similar. The sessions are taught step by step, with the assumption that you're not a trained chef. The point is that you leave able to cook these at home.

Meals are included throughout, and the long-table lunches are a centrepiece — they happen in a rustic barn on the property, with everyone eating together. Wines are matched to the dishes. Breakfasts and dinners are also covered, though the source doesn't give a detailed menu for those; expect the same Spanish/Mediterranean leaning, tailored to the group's dietary needs.

Accommodation is on site, with at least two room configurations available: a shared Coconut Room with double beds, and a private suite for a couple. The property is described as upscale, and the setting — deep in the Ferguson Valley — is rural and quiet. You're not in a town; you're among the hills and vineyards.

The retreat is led by the team at Ferguson Valley Escape, the operator of the property. The source doesn't name individual instructors or give bios; it says the facilitator team is confirmed before your stay. So you won't know exactly who's teaching until closer to the date, but the format is consistent: hands-on, small-group, in a home-kitchen-style setting.

What makes this different from a standard cooking class is the stay. You're not driving home after; you're sleeping there, eating all your meals there, and spending the weekend with the same group. That turns a class into a weekend. It's also in a part of Western Australia that's not on the main tourist trail — the Ferguson Valley is wine country, but quieter than Margaret River.

The single-day option is available if you can't do the full three days. It includes a cooking class and a long-table lunch, same style, compressed into one day. But the full retreat is the one that includes accommodation and all meals.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation at Ferguson Valley Escape - All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Matched wines with meals - Hands-on cooking sessions (paella, tapas) - Long-table lunches in the rustic barn - Use of the property's facilities during your stay

What's not included

- Travel to and from Crooked Brook, Western Australia - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Alcoholic drinks beyond the matched wines (confirm with operator) - Optional upgrades and extras