THEY'RE small, green and don't look like much but these grapes will soon be transformed into one of Australia's biggest-selling sparkling wines.
Dareton winegrape grower Brent Farnsworth began harvesting some of his chardonnay grapes last week.
They're picked earlier than usual to ensure high acid levels and a baume of 9.5, which is 30 per cent less sugar than is needed for full-bodied table wines.
"They make all their bubbly out of that," Mr Farnsworth said.
"It will be followed in a fortnight by riper chardonnay for full-bodied whites, and then sauvignon blanc."
Mr Farnsworth also grows colombard, and four red varieties - shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and merlot.
