Faculty

Dr. Roy Thornton
Professor of Enology (Retired August 2016)

Ph.D. Applied Microbiology, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland


Email: rthornto@csufresno.edu

Brief Introductory Statement:
Dr. Roy Thornton was a professor of enology in the Department of Viticulture and Enology. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Microbiology from Strathclyde University, Scotland in 1970. He taught at Massey University in New Zealand for 20 years and then at Indiana University in Kokomo, Indiana for three years before joining the E & J Gallo Winery as a Senior Research Microbiologist for five years. His research focus is on wine microbiology with emphasis on wine yeast genetics and physiology and on the breeding of wine yeast by selective hybridization for improved winemaking properties. He also focuses on the manipulation of wine flavor by the use of different wine yeasts, on the interaction of wine yeasts and bacteria and on the real time monitoring of fermentation by flow cytometry. He has additional interests in quantifying microbial rot on wine grapes.

Link to Curriculum Vitae