I'll be in Rome on a business trip until Saturday Feb 24th. I plan to stay a few extra days and wanted to visit some areas outside of Rome (I have visited the sights in Rome before). Any recommendations on places to go, places to stay, wineries to visit, etc. Ideally, I'd like to get everywhere by train and of course, drink some great wine.

I would suggest Siena and San Gimignano, Tuscany.
It is a short trip from Rome and you find amazing landscape, beautiful city and very very very fine dining...
If you need something more specific lease let me know

Matteo

Thanks for the recommendation. Would I need a car to get there, or can I get there by train. Do you recomend any specific lodging, restaurants, etc. there?

What a great trip! If you choose to go to Siena and the wine country, you should travel by car....you will find it to be spectacular scenery and, of course, there is fabulous wine. I'd suggest a Relais and Chateaux property about one half hour from Siena, in a beautiful setting of olive groves and vinyards..Borgo San Felice is simply charming with great service. It is comprised of separate buildings in a little village..just delightful. But a car will greatly enhance your trip which might be disappointing otherwise. Have fun!
Added to state that I said "disappointing" only because I would not want to be stuck on a train with all the beauty rushing by and no time to stop and enjoy it. If a train is essential, you could have a lovely time in Siena or Florence, staying in the cities and enjoying all they have to offer. Have not stayed in Siena, but stayed in Florence and it is very easy to walk around with lots of fine restaurants as well as any fine hotel you choose. Stayed at the Regency and not crazy about it...they say it's not for everyone....rather dreary...lots of others. Enjoy it all!

I have never gone south to wine country. I would consider doing so in Feb, as tuscany is pretty cold, does have snow, and I think most of the wineries are closed. To do tuscany, you pretty much have to have a car. I have been to montalcino in feb. we were the only people in residence montalcino for the whole week. we were very close to the only tourists in the whole town. all wineries were locked up. great bars(wine bars) in town. nice restaurants. would go again for two days, just to try to drink the place dry. do not know how to get there with public transport.

frome rome, I would go south. for Aglianico del Vulture in basicilica, or more likely to apulia(puglia) as they have greater varity. I have no idea if anything is open, but the temp is about 10F higher than in tuscany. surely there is a rome-bari train, and most likely a rome-brindisi train.

I visited this wonderful family owned winery about a year ago

La Ripa (http://www.laripa.it/inglese/storia21.htm)

They have apartment rentals, and are conveniently located near the Autostrade. You would need a car, but are a short drive from Siena and San Jimmy.

It's true that it can be cold in Tuscany in February...in fact many inns and relais are not open till March 1....Borgo San Felice being one of them...there are others, however, that are good opening Feb. 15. I remember the first time we drove through the area road signs indicating snow warnings were surprising since it was a beautiful September. Just didn't think of it when you asked for info. Still would be enjoyable with very little tourists. Siena and Florence might be a better bet.

I recommend driving something like Roma-Siena-San Gimignano-Cortona-Montepulciano-Roma. I did it (again) last weekend; you should have plenty of time and you will see very interesting sights along.

If you have not been there yet, go visit Pompeii and Erculaneum.
This is south of Rome in the Naples area. Sleep either in Naples or Sorrento. If you sleep in sorrento you might take a coast ride on the local buses or just drive by yourself.
From Rome you can drive or go by train to Naples Centrale station. Change there to the local train service called Circumvesuviana which on the same line goes to Sorrento and stops in Pompeii and Erculaneum.