Maragas Winery Marks ‘Mother Earth Day’

Sunday was International Mother Earth Day, so Maragas Winery in Culver celebrated by doing something logical and natural: some planting.

Central Oregon’s first wine company is expanding its vineyard by 18 acres, and began the expansion Sunday by planting grape vines. The first was planted by Samantha and her dad, winery owner Doug Maragas.

Maragas said it’s a strictly organic vineyard.

“We’re very conscious of what we are doing with the land and the environment,” he said. “We have solar energy — I don’t know if you can see that on the roof, but that’s 15 kilowatts of energy up there. We recycle glass — we do many different things.”

Maragas Winery produces abut 2,000 cases of wine annually.