Cloudy Bay goes gardening

Cloudy Bay has recruited a pair of landscape architects to translate the Kiwi brand’s flavours and structure into a garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

A preview of this year’s Cloudy Bay Garden

Brothers Harry and David Rich, who are based in Wales’ Brecon Beacons, have created a display based on a red and white colour scheme to match Cloudy Bay’s range of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Developing this theme further, the garden will feature fragrant plants and water features to represent Sauvignon Blanc, earthy elements and darker hues to reflect Pinot Noir, and then “more subtle spring planting arrangements” to capture Chardonnay’s milder, creamier layers.

Meanwhile a moveable oak structure will provide a focal point and different perspectives for the garden, as well as replicating the real Cloudy Bay “Shack” at the Marlborough Estate and representing the role of wood in the wines’ maturation process.

With David Rich explaining the garden’s aim to show “how things simply fit together through structure and architecture of the wine,” the display also seeks to show off the various micro-climates and soil types of the Marlborough region.

Maria Ines Pina, brand manager of Cloudy Bay commented: “Coming from the heart of the Brecon Beacons, the Rich brothers truly understand nature and how people connect to it. As a result they have perfectly interpreted the authentic simplicity of Cloudy Bay. The garden embraces our approach to winemaking and will be a sensitive interpretation of the simplicity, modernity and intensity of flavour found in Cloudy Bay wines.”

The relationship came about through co-sponsor Vital Earth, a soil improver brand which is supplying materials and has worked with the Rich brothers at the show for the last two years.

This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place from 19-23 May, with the Cloudy Bay Garden located at plot MA17.

Last year saw the Moët Hennessy-owned brand transport its Chelsea garden after the show to be recreated for another six weeks on the outdoor terrace at London luxury department store Harvey Nichols.