Ardon is a Swiss wine appellation in western Switzerland, its catchment area covering the village of the same name in the Valais region. Most white Ardon wine is varietal, made from Chasselas, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris. The reds consist mostly of Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cornalin, Humagne Rouge and Syrah.
The hillsides are steep in Ardon, particularly just above the town to the west. The highest vines sit at around 2500ft (760m) and topography and altitude are vital factors in local viticulture and winemaking.
The Swiss wine industry lacked a formalized appellation system until the late 1980s, but now a comprehensive structure is in place under the management of the Office federal de l'agriculture (Bundesamt fur Landwirtschft or Ufficio federale dell'agricoltura to German and Italian speakers). In the nation's three official languages, the classification is variously entitled Appellation d'Origine Controlle (AOC), Geographische Ursprungbezeichnung (GUB) and Denominazione d'Origine Controllata (DOC). The different names and corresponding acronyms are evidence of Switzerland's multi-lingualism.
More than 650 appellations now cover the villages and vineyards of Switzerland, of which Ardon is one. Most are named after the single commune they cover, while others denote multiple communes or even smaller areas within those communes. A small number of Swiss appellations cover an entire region, focusing on a particular grape variety or representative wine style; Dorin Vaudois and Rosato Ticinese are examples of this.
As Switzerland continues to pursue and develop export markets for its wines – for a long time sold only through domestic channels – Swiss wine from appellations such as Ardon will become more readily available and more widely recognized.
