Born in London in April `69, raised in Australia and educated in Tokyo and Paris, Ned Goodwin has chosen a path in wine far from the mundane that has encompassed restaurant work, consultancy, corporate experience as a buyer, show judging and work in the media: print and television.

Since 2001, Ned has served as Wine-Director and Sommelier for Global Dining Japan, one of Asia’s largest restaurant groups; consultant for P.J. Group (Salt, WW etc.) and the Greek Embassy during the Olympics. Ned is also the first Japanese-speaking MW and the only male in Asia to hold the title.

Ned’s responsibilities encompass regular travel to wine regions and major trade shows and tastings including Vinitaly, Bordeaux en Primeur, Prowein and most recently, Napa, Yarra and intriguingly, India. With his interest in the diversity of taste throughout Asian cultures, Ned’s enthusiasm and passion for wine sees him in search of ‘wines with something to say for themselves’, especially in the context of Asian pluralism.

Moreover, Ned’s work incorporates wine-education for more than 300 young restaurant staff, many from all over Asia; new to wine but eager to learn. ‘Education’, Ned believes, is the crux to Asia’s vibrant vinous pulse.

Before coming to Japan, Ned was one of three sommeliers at Veritas restaurant in New York city’s Grammercy neighbourhood from 1998-2001. A Wine Spectator Grand Award winner, Veritas boasts what is arguably the finest wine-list of any restaurant in the world. Ned has also worked at les Juveniles in Paris and Michael’s in Los Angeles as a sommelier. Over these years, private consultancy and events included those for the Australian Embassy in Paris and Hollywood luminaries Ron Perlman and Harvey Weinstein in New York. Ned also hosted dinners for winemakers such as Laurence Faller of Alsace’s Domaine Weinbach and Etienne de Montille of Domaine de la Montille in Burgundy.

Ned also had his own Japanese television show on wine, “Vintage” (2000), appeared as guest-lecturer on “Wine Marketing” at one of Japan`s most prestigious universities: Keio (2002-4), and has appeared in, and writes for, numerous journals throughout the world including the New York Times, WINART, The Japan Times, Tokyo Calendar, Wine Business International, Qantas Inflight, Metropolis, Brutus, Goethe, Dining, Vinotheque and Asian Correspondent, a website with a readership of more than three-million.