d'Arenberg Pollyanna Polly, Adelaide Hills

Pale gold with a persistent bead. Aromas of lemon peel, apple blossom and beeswax alongside buttered toast. Dry, with citrus pith and almond on the palate, a chalky texture and mineral length. Excellent value. Drink to 2030.

89 points Melissa Moore for The Real Review, September 2026

The Pollyanna Principle is the tendency for people to remember pleasant times more accurately than unpleasant ones. Chester Osborn’s mother Pauline was an eternal optimist always looking on the bright side of life and known to family and friends alike as Pollyanna Polly.

The traditional sparkling varieties used for the base wine of this sparkling were sourced the Adelaide Hills and picked early to retain high natural acidity. The fruit was pressed in stainless steel basket presses and following primary and partial malolactic fermentation the individual parcels were blended, bottled and inoculated with yeast and sugar to encourage a secondary fermentation in bottles, with the wine resting on lees for approximately four years.

The wine is finished with a 6g/L dosage, making it a crowd-pleasing sparkling for any festive occasion.

About this producer

The 1912 established d'Arenberg remains a family business, with fourth-generation Chester Osborn crafting bold, characterful wine with winemaker Jack Walton that continuing the family legacy of pushing the boundaries of the region.

The estate vineyards are substantial, with the family owning or leasing roughly 200 hectares in McLaren Vale, in addition to sourcing grapes from contract growers in the Adelaide Hils and the Fleurieu. Their own vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic, making family one of the largest biodynamic farmers in Australia.

The range of wines on offer is notable, with the winery vinifying nearly forty varieties in most seasons. The work at the winery remains highly traditional and labour-intensive despite their large scale, with all white and red wines pressed with gentle basket presses, and the red ferments foot-trodden by cellar hands in the original open concrete fermenters. The red wines are bottled without fining or filtration.