Rain

Rain is a Marlborough-based collaboration between Coldwell-Soper and T. Edward that focuses solely on New Zealand’s flagship white grape: Sauvignon Blanc. Sourcing only from sustainably farmed local vineyards, they render the variety with tropical richness and vivacity.

Al Soper and Pete Coldwell met in 2007 when Al offered Pete a winemaking job at Highfield in Marlborough. Al had been crafting critically acclaimed Sauvignon Blancs there since 1999, bolstering a résumé that included stints in Oregon, Bordeaux, and the Southern France. The pair founded Coldwell-Soper in 2018, and when they got the chance to take over the Rain brand, they didn’t hesitate. It gave them a chance to partner with local grower friends and make wine exactly the way they wanted.

The name Rain is a nod to the importance of perfectly balanced precipitation in Marlborough. It’s one of the sunniest regions in New Zealand, so moderate rain at ideal intervals is essential to give the Sauvignon Blanc a razor’s-edge balance between fruit richness and acidity.

Al, Pete, and all of their grower friends share a quality-over-quantity philosophy and value sustainable farming. Their grower-partners spray minimally and employ strict water regulations, following the criteria of the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand certification.

With Rain, Al and Pete aim to harness Marlborough’s intense diurnal temperature swings to evoke the tropical profile that defines the region’s Sauvignon Blanc. They take a hands-off approach in the cellar, aging on the lees to add texture, depth, and complexity.