My brother Richard Goodman, who passed away at the age of 87, was instrumental in bringing New Zealand wine to the British market, starting in the early 1980s.

Back then, New Zealand wine was virtually non-existent in the UK, with no presence on supermarket shelves. Today, it ranks at the top of the sales charts for white wine in Britain by value.

In 1980, Richard relocated to London and began working with Cooks New Zealand Wine, the first New Zealand winery to penetrate this challenging new market. By 1986, he had moved on to Montana, a larger producer now known as Brancott Estate.

He earned a reputation within the UK wine industry as “Mr. New Zealand Wine,” and later “Mr. Montana,” hosting numerous tastings and leveraging his charisma and enthusiasm to promote the unique offerings of the New World wineries.

A friend reminisced about evenings spent tasting wine at the Haymarket location of Peter Dominic, a wine retail chain in central London, where “Richard, the shop manager, and I were often the only attendees. However, Richard’s dedication and tenacity eventually drew large crowds to our tastings.”

Among the early advocates of New Zealand wines were John Avery of Averys Wine Merchants in Bristol and Don Hewitson, the owner of the Cork and Bottle wine bar near Leicester Square. Wine writer Oz Clarke became a fan after attending a Montana Sauvignon Blanc tasting at New Zealand House in the mid-1980s.

“My perception of wine changed forever,” he later reflected. “There had never been a wine that burst with flavors and excitement right from the glass.”

Clarke praised New Zealand winemakers, saying they could confidently present their creations and challenge the established players, declaring, “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 (née Bogle), who was a graduate in domestic science and a teacher. He received his education at Christchurch Boys’ High School and initially studied engineering at Canterbury University before shifting his focus to marketing.

In addition to his sales career, which included a role with wine producers Delegat in the late 1970s, Richard was an avid sportsman, enjoying activities such as mountain climbing, rugby, and achieving recognition in national surf lifesaving competitions.

He married Valma Parkinson in 1964 and had two children, Michelle and Adrienne; however, the marriage ended in divorce, as did his second union with Glenys Halliday in 1975.

After relocating to the UK, Richard met Joan Howells while exploring antiques shops in the Cotswolds. They wed in 1985 and made their home in Sutton-under-Brailes, Warwickshire.

Richard continued with Montana until 1993, after which he served as a freelance consultant for three years before moving to Queensland, Australia, with Joan. There, he represented Champagne Lanson in Australasia.

He retired in his early 70s and enjoyed a laid-back lifestyle on the Gold Coast, while frequently returning to the UK to visit family and friends.

He is survived by Joan, their daughters Michelle and Adrienne, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and his siblings: Jane, John, Felicity, and myself.