The Maule Valley is Chile’s largest wine-producing valley with 43% of the country’s total plantations. The Central Valley is formed between the Coastal and Andes Mountain Ranges, and the Maule thus features three distinct climatic areas: the Pacific region lies in the west toward the Coastal Mountains and has a maritime climate, the inter-mountain valley floor has a Mediterranean climate and fairly deep fertile soils, and the Andean foothills are marked by rocky, well-drained soils and a climate that is influenced by the cooling effect of the mountains that rise to the east. The entire region enjoys a hot, dry summer and a fairly long growing season. These climatic variations create a diversity of growing conditions that support a wide range of grape varieties and wine styles.