Associate Professor, Food Science Department

Renee has worked in the Food Science Department at the UA System (Fayetteville) for over 30 years. She currently has a split position of 47% research, 35% Extension and 18% teaching. She completed her BS in Microbiology and MS and PhD in Food Science with an emphasis in enology and viticulture at the University of Arkansas. 

Renee’s research and extension at the UA System is focused on processing and post-harvest storage of specialty crops (wine grapes, muscadine grapes, table grapes, blackberries, strawberries, peaches, etc.) and value-added processing of horticultural crops. She has over 50 refereed journal publications. She teaches an introductory enology and viticulture class Uncorked: Vines to Wines at the University of Arkansas each fall and teaches enology, viticulture and sensory topics for grape and wine production in other Food Science classes.  

Renee is a member of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture (ASEV), ASEV-Eastern Section, American Wine Society, American Society for Horticultural Science, and North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association. She is on the Extension and Outreach Committee for the National Grape Research Alliance, is a member of the Arkansas Association of Grape Growers, and serves on the Arkansas Wine Producers Council. She is also the director of the Arkansas Quality Wine Program. 

Phone: 479-575-4677 | Email: rthrelf@uark.edu