TVC founder Wolfgang W. Schaefer, M. Sc. in Viticulture and Oenology (Geisenheim/Germany), looks back on more than 40 years of experience in all tropical grape growing countries of Asia like India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam as well as Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia), Angola, north-east Brazil, Burundi, Cuba, Curacao Island, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Peru, Tanzania, Taiwan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

His first contact with tropical viticulture dates back to 1978 when he studied the “floating vineyards” of Thailand, the table grape areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (India), as well as viticulture in Taiwan. He then worked as the head of a Viticultural and Oenological Research and Training Centre at Dodoma, Tanzania (East Africa), where he set up 40ha of tropical experimental vineyards with over 240 different wine, table grape and rootstock cultivars. The vineyards were closely monitored over a period of 8 years and all findings were documented in close co-operation with the Geisenheim Institute for Grape Breeding.

From 1993 – 2000, Thailand was again on the agenda when the Boonrawd Brewery Co. commissioned the planning and implementation of Khao Yai Estate Winery, including all vineyards. From 1997 onwards, this task was completed together with Hans-Peter Hoehnen, who became a partner at TVC. Since then, many assignments in tropical countries all over the world, from short-term studies to long-term consultations, have followed.

Wolfgang is increasingly engaged with fungus resistant grape varieties (PIWIs), and is part of the extended executive board as well as an advisory expert for PIWI International. He also regularly holds lectures at Geisenheim University and abroad. For details of all freelance activities, please refer to the list of References.