Thomas Vineyard
View from the vineyard looking out onto the Yakima River during the Prosser Balloon Rally held annually during the month of September.
Peter Edward Thomas, PhD., the patriarch of Thomas Vineyard, moved from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest in 1966 which began a 30 plus year stint with the United States Department of Agriculture in Prosser, Washington. During his years with the USDA, Peter worked on many projects and was a key leader in the development of genetically modified crops, specifically tomatoes and a strain of potato resistant to potato leaf roll virus. His many friends and coworkers held Peter in high esteem. He traveled the world sharing his research with fellow scientists in South America, Egypt, Pakistan, and Europe. His efforts ultimately allowed farmers to produce more disease resistant crops with higher yields. He saw his research as a way to help other countries produce more and decrease hunger. As the saying goes; "Once a farmer, always a farmer." Pete worked his own 20 acres over the years growing asparagus, strawberries, and ultimately wine grapes. This farm is where his children have built their own characters and work ethic.
A new generation...
Dad passed away in October of 2015. We feel the opportunity we had to work side by side with him over the years have been priceless. Our family, including our young children, the 3rd generation, have gained important memories of working out on the family land. We've been privileged with managerial tasks and more recently inheriting the responsibility of tending the vineyard. We moved to the farm site in 2008 and will continue, in years to come, to carry on Dad's tradition, the love of farming.
Our small flock of Babydoll sheep (and chickens) munching contently on the outskirts of the vineyard.