 Like many "Vitis vinifera" varieties, Gros Verdot is highly prone to phylloxera with the phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century being partially responsible for the grape's near extinction in France.This is because Gros Verdot does not take well to the grafting process that binds the vine to American rootstock that is more tolerant to phylloxera.While viticultural advances have improved Gros Verdot's grafting tolerance it still only takes well to certain types of "Vitis rupestris" stocks.