Argentinian wine producer Doña Paula has scooped the top prize with the vineyards debut appearance at Bloom created by Bord Bia, Irelands largest family, gardening and food festival, held in Phoenix Park, Dublin 30th May – 3rd June.
Dublin based Alan Rudden, who designed Santa Rita’s gold medal winning show garden for both Bloom and Hampton Court Flower Show in 2018, struck gold again picking up the top medal in the ‘Best Large Garden’ alongside the coveted ‘Best in Show’ for his ‘Viña Doña Paula – A Matter of Altitude’ garden in the ‘Large Show Garden’ category.
Inspired by a recent visit to the Doña Paula vineyards and winery in Mendoza, Argentina, this garden -which at 300 square metres is the largest show garden ever created at Bloom- is Rudden’s interpretation of elements of this famous wine growing country. He captures the contrast between the lower altitude, urban social life of Mendoza city and the higher altitude sprawling landscapes and vast plains where Doña Paula’s vines are grown.
Altitude and thistles play an important part in our vineyards and therefore our Bloom garden. Most of our vineyards are found at altitudes of over 1000 meters above sea level in the foothills of the Andes Mountains – which results in excellent but challenging growing conditions. The thistle flower, which features on the labels of our Doña Paula Los Cardos wines, is said to be ‘a sign of good things to come’ the omen of a good harvest’.
