It is with a heavy heart, and of course a glass or two of Rock Ferry Blanc de Blanc, we say farewell to Rudy Schuil and wish him well for the future. As a well-recognized ‘face of Rock Ferry,’ along with this trademark moustache, he will certainly be missed.
Well-known and respected in the Marlborough hospitality industry, Rudy is retiring after a decade with Rock Ferry Wines. He has played an integral part in the success and expansion programme of the company and had recently also taken on the role of Marlborough Sales Representative, looking after restaurant and supermarket wine sales.
As a young 17-year-old, Rudy enrolled at a Hotel Training School in Holland (now the Netherlands) covering all aspects of the hospitality industry. After graduating, Rudy boarded a ship bound for New Zealand arriving in Dunedin. His first position was Maitre’d at the prestigious Southern Cross Hotel where he was instrumental in introducing ‘table cooking’ to NZ diners. Rudy was then head-hunted by what was then known as the government run Tourist Hotel Corporation and subsequently spent many years moving around their many fine-dining hotels in Queenstown, Milford Sounds and also The Hermitage at Aoraki/Mt Cook.
Rudy and his partner had fallen in love with the New Zealand lifestyle and by the year 2000 were ready to settle down and become ‘Dutch Kiwis.’ Marlborough was chosen and in Rudy’s words, “for the sunshine, local produce and the wine of course.”
Over the last 10 plus years Rudy has generously shared his culinary talents and his extensive wine knowledge with the many guests who have visited the original Rock Ferry Restaurant and our present Cellar Door at the Corners Vineyard. Our thanks and respect go to Rudy for his dedication and the huge contribution he has made to the success of Rock Ferry. We wish him good health and a happy retirement. A big cheers to his the future!