Oregon's wine reputation rests overwhelmingly on the Willamette Valley, where a cooler, wetter climate than California — closer to Burgundy's — has made it one of the world's most respected sources of Pinot Noir outside France. Volcanic and sedimentary soils split the valley into distinct sub-regions, and the state's Chardonnay and Pinot Gris have followed Pinot Noir's lead toward a leaner, more European style.

Key grapes: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay