Wines to Pair with Ham
Dec 16, 2023
By
tflavius
Wines to Pair with Ham
As the holidays roll in, ham often takes center stage. Whether it’s a savoury smoked ham or the sweet treat of a glazed honey-baked ham, there’s plenty of rich flavour, texture, salt, and fat to consider when pairing wine. Some of the best wines for ham tend to be more fruit forward with vibrant food-friendly acidity.
White Wine Ham Pairings
Think of the sweeter, aromatic, fruity nature of German Riesling with lively acidity, residual sugar and some palate weight for carrying a thick slice of honey baked ham for a sweet meets sweet pairing compliment or opt for the lovely contrast pairing of the sweeter notes of the Riesling against the smoky notes of a dry cured Black Forest ham. Moscato d’ Asti, Piedmont’s lighter styled dessert dandy, is also an easy option for the sweeter ham finds. For more aromatics, less residual sugar and lively acidity, Gewurztraminer is a white wine no-brainer for ham with all the sides.
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Nik Weis Mosel Urban Riesling Qualitätswein Mosel 75clAs low as BBD$41.99 -
Beni Di Batasiolo Bosc D'La Rei Moscato D'Asti DOCG 75clAs low as BBD$44.00
Red Wine Ham Pairings
There are plenty of reds that partner well the gauntlet of holiday ham options. For a bolder fruit profile, with peppery spice and malleable tannin structure Zinfandel is a great ham wine. Prefer more laid back, lighter reds? Consider the elegance and amicable nature of Beaujolais or Pinot Noir. Need a touch more complexity? Grab a Grenache or GSM blend. The classic “local food with local wine” maxim marks Spain’s Tempranillo as a classic for all sorts of regional Iberian ham offerings from Serrano to Jamón.
Happily, ham comes in a variety of cuts and seasonings that makes for remarkably versatile wine pairing options. Whether you go for a chilled white or a fruity red, there’s plenty to celebrate and experiment with in these easy holiday pairing partnerships.