BACKGROUNDElicitors induce defense mechanisms triggering the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Irrigation has implications for a more sustainable viticulture and for grape composition. The aim was to investigate the influence of foliar applications of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) nanoparticles and ACP doped with methyl jasmonate (ACP‐MeJ), as elicitor, under rainfed and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) grapevines, on grape aroma composition during 2019 and 2020.RESULTSIn both seasons, nearly all terpenoids, C13 norisoprenoids, benzenoid compounds and alcohols increased with ACP‐MeJ under the RDI regimen. In 2019, under the rainfed regime, ACP treatments increased limonene, p‐cymene, α‐terpineol, TDN, 2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol, (E,E)‐2,4‐heptadienal and methyl jasmonate concentration respect to control. In 2020, rainfed regime treated with ACP‐MeJ, only increased nonanoic acid content. Grape volatile compounds were most influenced by season and watering status, while the foliar application mainly affected the terpenoids.CONCLUSIONA RDI regime combined with the elicitor ACP‐MeJ application could improve the synthesis of certain important volatile compounds, such as p‐cymene, linalool, α‐terpineol, geranyl acetone, β‐ionone, 2‐phenylethanol, benzyl alcohol and nonanoic acid in Monastrell grapes.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.