Talk to folks in wine country and they all agree on one thing: The traffic is getting worse. You can spend as much time idling on 99W as actually tasting wines. There is an alternative, if little know—the Cascade Foothills. The wineries here, in a region that runs south of Oregon City to Silver Falls, are neglected in favor of their more glamorous neighbors to the east. But there are good wines to be found here, and a host of varietals beyond your standard Pinot. This Saturday is the perfect opportunity to check out what the region has to offer—Taste Learn Celebrate, billed as a grape to glass expo, brings together 15 wineries, offering 60-plus wines (for only 15 bucks!). There’s also a display of winemaking techniques and tools, with some hands on activities (which sounds like a sneaky way for a winery to get their bottling done on the cheap). It’s taking place at the charismatic Festhalle down Mount Angel way, well away from the crowds of Dundee and Newburg.

Saturday May 6, Mt Angel Festhalle, 12-5 pm, $15. Tickets available here

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