The wine grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) originated in the Middle East, was domesticated in the Mediterranean basin and in Europe, and only more recently expanded into the New Worlds. In each of these regions it encountered different climates1, cultivation systems, soils and winemaking traditions2. Its ability to adapt to such diverse growing conditions was made possible by an immense intraspecific biodiversity, which has produced hundreds of cultivars selected in different environments. Moreover, to protect vines from phylloxera, V. vinifera has been systematically grafted for more than a century onto rootstocks belonging to other Vitisspecies, either monospecific or, more commonly, hybrids resulting from interspecific crossbreeding3.
Across this wide biological landscape, grapevines display a full spectrum of drought-acclimation strategies, ranging from extreme stress tolerance to stress avoidance, in which the water status of the plant regulates the transpiration possibilities, and vice versa4. This interplay has direct consequences for carbon assimilation and primary metabolism, both under drought and during subsequent rehydration5. It also has indirect effects on secondary metabolism, mediated by well-characterized hormonal balances, particularly abscisic acid (ABA)6. Because secondary metabolism of the berry underlies key viticultural goals and ultimately determines oenological success (or failure), the specific mechanism linking drought resistance to the ripening process have been extensively investigated and clarified over the years7.
DOI: 10.1038/s44383-026-00028-6
Publication Date: 2026-06-03