Oregon and Washington represent a cooler, more European style of North American wine. Oregon is best known for Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley — a cool, wet climate reminiscent of Burgundy. The wines tend toward elegance and bright acidity rather than weight. Washington State is drier and warmer east of the Cascade Range, with intense sunshine but cold nights in appellations like Columbia Valley. There, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah dominate. Both states use grape-led labeling and the AVA system to specify origin.