On Thu, 13 May 2004, Emery Davis wrote:

] No, it's to do with the concentration of the juice.
]

That's right of course: stressed vines produce smaller grapes with more
sugar content. Same as with old vines, which is why the INAO (governs
french AOCs) doesn't allow very young wines in most appellations.

However in many climates, e.g. California or Oz, watering is required to
produce fruit. It's just too hot, otherwise.

Normally watering is not required for an established vine because it
sends its roots as deep and wide as it needs in order to find moisture.
But I have no experience of vines in California or Oz. :-)

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