In this research, the responses of six grapevine cultivars to irrigation regimes were investigated using some physiological and biochemical traits in order to determine the water deficit tolerant cultivars and to select them as a rootstock. The potted plants were subjected to different irrigation treatments: well-watered (100% FC or Full Irrigation, FI), mild (75 % FI), moderate (50% FI) and severe water deficit (25% FI) for a period of 60 days. A factorial experiment (6 cultivars × 4 irrigation levels) was conducted in a completely randomized design (RCD) under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that ‘Rotabi’ cultivar had the highest quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and relative water content (RWC %) under severe water stress deficit and cultivar ‘Thompson Seedless’ had the lowest amount of these two above mentioned traits. The lowest total chlorophyll (TCh) occurred in ‘Yaghouti’ and ‘Flame Seedless’ and the highest one in ‘Rotabi’ and ‘Thompson Seedless’. The highest amount of starch, proline and protein was observed in ‘Rotabi’ in response to different irrigation levels. ‘Perlette’ had the highest activity of POD, SOD and protein content as well as total chlorophyll content under 25% FI. ‘Siah Samarghandi’ and ‘Thompson Seedless’ cultivars indicated the same activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in different irrigation levels. In conclusion, it seems that ‘Rotabi’ and ‘Perlette’ are the most tolerant grapevine cultivars in response to progressive water deficit.