Introduction Grapevine wood and roots are by‐products obtained during vineyard management. This plentiful biomass is known to be rich in stilbenes and can be used as a source of high‐value compounds as well as active natural extracts. However, the stilbenes in grapevine wood and roots from different cultivars and rootstocks remain to be characterized.[br/] Objective The present study investigated the stilbene content of eight major Vitis vinifera cultivars and six different rootstocks. In addition, the distribution of stilbenes was established for each of seven parts into which the plants were sub‐divided.[br/] Methodology For stilbene characterization and quantification purposes, an ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography‐diode array detector‐mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐DAD‐MS/MS) analysis of different samples was carried out. Moreover, structural data of stilbenes was unambiguously studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra.[br/] Results Whatever the cultivar/rootstock combination, stilbenes were found to be oligomerized from the aerial part to the root system. Furthermore, stilbene content varied widely depending on the cultivars and rootstocks. For instance, the cultivars Merlot, Tannat and Gamay noir were the richest in stilbenes while the rootstocks Gravesac, Fercal and 3390C contained the highest amounts.[br/] Conclusion These findings provide insight into the knowledge that major grapevine cultivars and rootstocks can be used as a potential source of complex stilbenes.Read less <