Hello! Welcome to Wine Travelista.
  • Home
  • About
  • Travel
  • Wine
  • Food
  • Work With Me
  • Shop
  • Wine Candle Holder
  • Contact
  • Web Stories
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Food
  • Freebies
    • Wine Tasting Planner
    • Wine Trip Packing List
  • Shop
    • Shop My Favorites
    • Wine Barrel Candle Holder
    • Wine Club
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

Wine Travelista

Food · October 18, 2022

The Best Wine Pairings With Ham

Wine pairings with ham

If you’re looking for wine pairings with ham, you’ve come to the right place!

You might be wondering whether you should pair red or white wine with ham. The answer? It depends on the type of ham you’re having.

Ham can be prepared in many ways. You can smoke it, age it, cure it, glaze it, honey bake it…I could go on, but you get the point.

When choosing the best wine to pair with your ham, you want to make sure it works with the style of the ham. Read on to find out which wines go best with all the different types of ham.

Table of Contents Hide
1. Glazed Ham Wine Pairing
2. Smoked Ham Wine Pairing
3. Cured Ham Wine Pairing
4. Wine Pairings with Ham and Turkey
5. One Wine to Rule Them All
6. Brown Sugar & Honey-Glazed Ham Recipe Equipment
7. Brown Sugar & Honey-Glazed Ham

Want a great ham recipe? I’ve got that for you too. Keep scrolling for this brown sugar and honey-glazed ham that’s perfect for a holiday meal like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinner. Or if you love ham as much as I do, you can make it for a regular old Sunday ham dinner!

BTW, if you haven’t yet, make sure to grab my free Wine Tasting Planner. It has 20+ wine night theme ideas, including the exact ones I’ve used for my wine tastings. Plus, a timeline, food pairings, games, free printables, worksheets, and more. Get your copy here.

Recommendations may be affiliate links on which I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me share new wine destinations with you and I only recommend products and services that I love and think you’ll love too!

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Glazed Ham Wine Pairing

For you sweet and salty fans looking for glazed or honey-baked ham wine pairings, you’ll want something fruit-forward and even a little sweet.

Sweet flavor in food makes wine taste less fruity and more bitter. So that’s why a sweet wine, or one that’s at least sweeter than the food, is a good choice.

You could for sure go with an off-dry Riesling here. But another great option is Gewurztraminer. It may be a mouthful to say, but your mouth will thank you once you taste it. Grab a bottle from Alsace and inhale aromas of lychees, roses, and baking spices.

If your heart is set on red wine, I’d go with an Australian Shiraz. The warm climate makes these wines incredibly fruit-forward. Look for one from Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale.

Smoked Ham Wine Pairing

If you’re looking for black forest ham or baked ham wine pairings, a fruity red wine is the best bet here. It will compliment the juicy, smoky flavors.

There are tons of great wine options to choose from. How about a jammy red Zinfandel wine from California in the United States? Or a Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain?

You could also opt for rosé wines from a place like Tavel, France. This full-bodied wine has enough flavor intensity and complexity to hold its own with the smoky, salty ham.

And when it comes to the holidays, you gotta love those leftover ham sandwiches. Looking for a wine pairing with a ham and cheese sandwich? A Beaujolais, made from the Gamay grape, would be a good pairing. You’ll find light, perfumed versions with fruity flavors from the villages of Fleurie or Brouilly.

Cured Ham Wine Pairing

What holiday would be complete without some charcuterie or antipasto? I love a good spread of dry-cured ham like prosciutto (aka parma ham), serrano ham, or Iberico ham with all the fixings.

These salty, fatty meats are a perfect match with Cava, Spain’s sparkling wine. It’s produced using the same method as Champagne, so you’ll get some of those bready flavors but less of the nutty ones. A white or rosé version would be a great choice to pair with the saltiness of the ham.

If you’re feeling adventurous, how about a Fino Sherry? This fortified dry wine also hails from Spain and has aromas of citrus, almonds, and herbs. Add some manchego cheese and you’re good to go!

Looking for more wine and cheese pairing ideas? Check out my recommendations for burrata wine pairing and Cambozola wine pairing.

Wine Pairings with Ham and Turkey

If you’re like my big Irish family who goes all out for the holidays, you may need a Thanksgiving wine pairing with ham and turkey. Plus, you have to think about what will work with all those tasty sides.

A Chateauneuf-du-Pape from France’s Southern Rhone would be an excellent choice. This is also known as a GSM blend (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre). Ones that are predominantly Grenache are soft and fruity.

But if in doubt, go with any kind of bubbly. The carbonation will act as a palate cleanser to reset your taste buds after each bite.  

One Wine to Rule Them All

Well, “rule” might be a bit extreme (this is what happens when you binge-watch The Rings of Power all weekend).

But, if I had to pick just one wine that works with pretty much any style of ham, it would be Riesling. The high acidity and versatility of this aromatic white make it one of the most food-friendly wines. And it’s a perfect pairing with pretty much any salty, spicy, or sweet ham.

Dry Rieslings from Germany (look for “Trocken” on the bottle) or Alsace, go great with smoked or cured ham. Off-dry versions (“Halbtrocken” or “Feinherb” in German) pair well with a sweet glaze, a fruit glaze, or the heat from a spicy ham.

Oh, and if you forgot to put your wine in the fridge, check out the secret of how to chill wine fast.

Brown Sugar & Honey-Glazed Ham Recipe Equipment

Honey glaze for ham in saucepan
Honey glazed ham with crispy crust on cutting board
Honey Brown Sugar glazed ham on table

For this recipe, you’ll need the following equipment:

  • Sharp chef’s knife – I use this one for everything
  • Roasting pan – love Le Creuset’s but anything like this would work
  • Meat thermometer – I like the Meater so you can leave it in and monitor from your phone
  • Small saucepan – Cuisinart Multi-Clad Pro is my go-to set
  • Carving set – mine is this set from Wusthof
  • Large cutting board
  • Serving platter
Shop my kitchen essentials
Pin for Later!
Honey Brown Sugar glazed ham on table

Brown Sugar & Honey-Glazed Ham

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time:20 mins
Cook Time:1 hr 15 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving
Servings: 25 people

Ingredients

  • 8-10 pound fully cooked ham, bone-in (shank or leg)
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsps Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Instructions

  • Remove packaging from the ham. Let rest at room temperature for an hour.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Move rack to bottom of oven.
  • If desired, remove outer rind from ham. This will make a crispier crust. Slide knife under the rind to loosen and peel back. Make sure to leave the white fat on the ham. Make 1/4 inch deep slices in a diamond pattern across the ham, with lines about 1 inch apart.
  • Line a roasting pan or baking tray with aluminum foil. Place ham in pan and pour water in bottom of pan. Cover with foil and put in the oven for 30 minutes.
  • To make the glaze, melt the butter in a small saucepan and stir frequently until golden brown. Add the brown sugar, honey, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves and stir until the sugar dissolves. Set aside and allow to cool.
  • Once ham has baked for 30 minutes, remove from oven and increase temperature to 425°F.
  • Brush 1/3 of the glaze all over the ham, making sure to get it in the cuts. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes.
  • Repeat this 2 more times, brushing another 1/3 of the glaze on the ham each time. Baste the ham with the juices from the pan. Remove the ham once it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
  • Let the ham rest for 15 minutes before carving and serving.

Notes

If the glaze hardens, reheat it on the stove until soft enough to brush on. 

What wine will you be enjoying with your ham?

Learned something new?
buy me a glass of wine

Posted In: Food · Tagged: Christmas, dinner, Easter, food, glazed, ham, holidays, Thanksgiving, wine

You’ll Also Love

Wine pairing with pesto sauceThe Perfect Wine Pairings for Pesto Sauce
Best wineries in Dry Creek ValleyThe Best Wineries in Dry Creek Valley (Wine Tasting Itinerary)
Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio featureSauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio: What’s the Difference?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Next Post >

How to Tour the Best Santorini Wineries

About Photo
Hello there! I'm Laura, the Wine Travelista — your go-to gal for winederlust inspiration, travel tips, and foodie destinations.

Get a Free Wine Tasting Planner

Support Wine Travelista

Buy Me a Glass of Wine

Wine Travelista Faves

Visit the Shop

Shopping through my links helps keep my content free at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Reader Favorites

hey there!

I’m Laura, the Wine Travelista — your go-to gal for winederlust inspiration, travel tips, and foodie destinations. I’m a WSET certified oenophile who loves helping others find good wine and save time and money on travel. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Wine Travelista

  • Home
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

Blog

  • Travel
  • Wine
  • Food

Shop

  • Wine Stave Centerpiece
  • Travel Essentials
  • Wine Accessories
  • Picnic Faves
  • Cooking Necessities

Freebies

  • Wine Tasting Planner
  • Wine Trip Packing List
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2023 Wine Travelista · Theme by 17th Avenue

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Read More
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT