Rootstock

The root portion of a grafted grapevine.

<h2>What it means in wine</h2> <p>Rootstocks are chosen for pest resistance, soil compatibility, drought tolerance, vigor control, and other viticultural needs.</p> <h2>Why it matters</h2> <p>Rootstock is usually not the named grape variety on a wine label, but it can strongly affect vineyard performance.</p>