Richard Goodman obituary
My brother Richard Goodman, who has died aged 87, played a leading role in introducing New Zealand wine to Britain, beginning in the early 1980s.At that time, New Zealand wine was practically unobtainable in the UK and was certainly not to be found on supermarket shelves.Today, it is top of the league table in Britain in terms of sales of white wines by value.Richard moved to London in 1980, and took up a position with Cooks New Zealand Wine, the first NZ producer to venture into this tough, nascent market.In 1986 he transferred to Montana, a bigger producer now known as Brancott Estate.
He became known in the UK wine trade as “Mr New Zealand Wine” and then “Mr Montana” as he conducted myriad tastings, using his charm and energy to spread the word about the New World’s distinctive wines.A friend recalled tasting evenings at the Haymarket branch of the Peter Dominic wine chain in central London, when “Richard, the shop manager and I were the only ones present.But Richard’s hard work and persistence paid off and soon the tastings were packed”.Early enthusiasts included John Avery of Averys Wine Merchants in Bristol and Don Hewitson, who owned the Cork and Bottle wine bar off Leicester Square.The wine writer Oz Clarke had become a devotee after attending a tasting of Montana Sauvignon Blanc at New Zealand House in the mid-80s.
“My world of wine would never be the same again,” he later recalled,“There had never before been a wine that crackled and spat its flavours at you from the glass,”New Zealand winemakers could now, Clarke declared: “Plonk their efforts down on a table and cry, ‘Beat that, old timers!’”Born in Stratford, New Zealand, Richard was the eldest of five children of an English civil engineer, Harry, and his wife, Helen (nee Bogle), a domestic science graduate and teacher,He was educated at Christchurch boys’ high school and began studying engineering at Canterbury University, before deciding to leave his studies and switch to a career in marketing,As well as his work in sales, including a stint with the wine producers Delegat in the late 1970s, Richard was a natural sportsman, climbing mountains, playing rugby and enjoying success at national surf lifesaving championships.
He married Valma Parkinson in 1964, with whom he had two children, Michelle and Adrienne; the marriage ended in divorce, as did his second, to Glenys Halliday, in 1975.After moving to the UK, Richard met Joan Howells while visiting antiques shops in the Cotswolds.They married in 1985 and settled in Sutton-under-Brailes in Warwickshire.Richard stayed with Montana until 1993, after which he worked as a freelance consultant for three years before moving to Queensland, Australia, with Joan.There, he became Champagne Lanson’s representative for Australasia.
Richard retired in his early 70s and then had time to enjoy the relaxed lifestyle of the Gold Coast.He and Joan also frequently returned to the UK to see family and friends.Joan survives him, as do Michelle and Adrienne, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and his siblings, Jane, John, Felicity and me.
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