Washinton state is considered on of the top producers of merlot and cabernet savignon in the United States. Most of Washington's vineyards are in the dry, warm eastern part of the state, separtated from the rainy western part by the Cascade Range. The number of wineries in the state is increasing rapidly, today there is more than 175. Walla Walla, an appellation also shared with Oregon's northern border, is small in comparision to the Columbia Valley, but contains some Washingtons best wineries.