Hit The North Willamette Valley Wine Trail

The Willamette Valley in Oregon is one of the country's most exciting burgeoning wine scenes, with its laid-back vibe and more than 200 wineries. Former Napa Valley and Sonoma loyalists are making their way farther north into this somewhat less-traversed region to taste wines from independent producers that dot the gorgeous valley. So, to introduce newcomers to the region, the North Willamette Valley has put together a weekend-long tour of 22 wineries, complete with free tastings, food pairings, tours, and hands-on activities, called the North Willamette Wine Trail Weekend.

From March 31 to April 1, the valley will be filled with wine explorers attending all kinds of events and tastings everywhere from Ponzi Vineyards to Freja Cellars to SakeOne, showcasing the varied landscape of the region. And because it's so close to Portland, getting there is easy.

Some of the events include a lesson in how raw foods (including wine and chocolate) nourish the palate and increase health, a seminar on biodynamic wines at Cooper Mountain Vineyards, a discussion of wine and food pairings at David Hill Vineyard, a look at how pinot noir is grown at Elk Cove Vineyard, and a chance to compare sparkling, barrel fermented, and no-oak pinot gris at Kramer Vineyards.

When the tasting is done, take a wine break at the Oregon Olive Mill or go fishing with A Helfrich Outfitter.