200-year old vines in a Gers vineyard in France labeled as a historic monument

Historical monuments are usually those structures which have been there in existence for ages and have withstood the tests of time.

The Pédebernade vines which had been planted in Gers 200 years ago have earned such a distinction. The vines have been tended to by 8 generations of the Pédebernades family.

It has been declared a French historic monument by the French authorities and is the first time such an honor has been bestowed on a living thing.

This has been reported in telegraph.co.uk of dated 12th of August 2012.

The vines had been planted 190 years back and have been able to survive the phylloxera disease which had devastated European vineyards in the late 19th century.

There are 600 plants which have been set in 12 rows in a small plot in the village of Sarragachies located in the alluvial plain at the foot of the Pyrenees. Experts believe that the vines have survived because of the sandy nature of the soil which prevented the sap-sucking phylloxera louse from attacks.

The products were of nearly 20 different types of grape types - seven types are unique to this part of the world.

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