Oregon is located at the exact same latitude as Burgundy in France, the other predominantly Pinot Noir area in the world. During the summer, the breezes from the Pacific combined with the northerly location result in warm summer days and cool autumns. The growing season here is relatively long, which gives the grapes a chance to gradually ripen. It typically rains in late fall and winter in Oregon, after the grapes have already been harvested. In the Willamette Valley, it rains much less in Oregon during growing season than it does in Burgundy. Almost all of Oregon's wine producing areas are protected from the effects of the Pacific Ocean by the Cascade Mountains and the Coastal Range.