Drought is one of the major problems currently affecting viticulture and its magnitude will increase in the coming years. The viability of growing of some varieties widely represented around the world is being compromised, so the identification of varieties more tolerant to recurrent drought is posed as a viable option for adaptation to these climate changes.

During the three-year period 2018-2020, the drought adaptation of twelve Spanish white grapevine varieties grown under limiting edaphoclimatic conditions in La Mancha (Spain) was studied. The phenology of the varieties was followed and basic agronomic and enological parameters were analyzed.

It was concluded that there are varieties, some of them little-known to date, that can respond adequately under severe water stress conditions: Albillo Real, Coloraillo, Macabeo and Verdejo. Others, such as Moscatel de Grano Menudo and Pedro Ximénez, showed worse agronomic behavior, with low yields and reduced vigor, which augurs low adaptation expectations of these varieties to such conditions.