diff --git a/demo/moulinrouge/tests.py b/demo/moulinrouge/tests.py
index b56fbc0..408c399 100644
--- a/demo/moulinrouge/tests.py
+++ b/demo/moulinrouge/tests.py
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ def get_test_routes(app):
         graph.add('3', [7, -14, -10, None, 8, 3, 1])
         graph.add('4', [7, 4, -10, None, 8, 3, 1])
         graph.x_labels = ('a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g')
+        graph.x_label_rotation = 90
         return graph.render_response()
 
     @app.route('/test/one/<chart>')
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ def get_test_routes(app):
             graph.add('1', [.1, 10, .001, 1000000])
             graph.add('2', [.234, 243, 2, 2981379, 1231])
             graph.x_labels = ('a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e')
-        graph.x_label_rotation = 45
+        graph.x_label_rotation = 90
         return graph.render_response()
 
     @app.route('/test/zero_at_34/<chart>')
diff --git a/pygal/graph/graph.py b/pygal/graph/graph.py
index 66101b3..397a4dd 100644
--- a/pygal/graph/graph.py
+++ b/pygal/graph/graph.py
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ class Graph(BaseGraph):
                           d='M%f %f v%f' % (0, 0, self.view.height),
                           class_='line')
         for label, position in self._x_labels:
+            major = is_major(position)
             guides = self.svg.node(axis, class_='guides')
             x = self.view.x(position)
             y = self.view.height + 5
@@ -137,12 +138,15 @@ class Graph(BaseGraph):
                 self.svg.node(
                     guides, 'path',
                     d='M%f %f v%f' % (x, 0, self.view.height),
-                    class_='%sline' % (
+                    class_='%s%sline' % (
+                        'major ' if major else '',
                         'guide ' if position != 0 else ''))
+            y += .5 * self.label_font_size + 5
             text = self.svg.node(
                 guides, 'text',
                 x=x,
-                y=y + .5 * self.label_font_size + 5
+                y=y,
+                class_='major' if major else ''
             )
             text.text = truncate(label, truncation)
             if text.text != label: