With a love of wine, Ruud nurtured a dream of owning his own vineyard and creating wines that could take on the world, well before he ever decided to head for New Zealand. With his aim for perfection he sought land that could offer something a little different a locale that would allow him the opportunity to fulfil his dream of making individualistic wines. His attention to detail is renowned in winemaking circles, especially his desire to understand his vineyard and the composition of every metre of it. At the helm of Staete Landt he is very much hands on. He makes the wines and promotes not only his own brand but also the Marlborough wine growing region. Ruud is a member of the Wine Marlborough Board and holds a position on the marketing committee of New Zealand Winegrowers.