California often steals the limelight when people talk about the wines of the United States, and for good reason; the state accounts for 90% of the country’s wine production. Nevertheless, every US state produces wine and in particular, Oregon, Washington and New York have long produced superb reds and whites equally worthy of attention.

For those who haven’t enjoyed the elegant Pinot Noirs of the Willamette Valley or sampled Walla Walla or Columbia Valley’s world class reds, there is no time like the present. Top-flight wineries like Cayuse and Quilceda Creek are regularly matching the great cult wines of Napa and achieving perfect scores from respected wine critics like Robert Parker and James Suckling.