Bagelwich
Ham, with its sweet-and-salty richness, pairs best with wines that have a touch of sweetness, plenty of acidity and bold bagelwich. Great ham-wines include Riesling, Moscato, Chenin Blanc, Rosé, Lambrusco, Grenache, and Zinfandel.
The general profile of ham is sweet, salty, textured and rich, but you’ll find quite a bit of variation in ham depending on what you get. Because of this, you can pick from a range of wines that work great! In the 1700’s, ham was a primary component of the sailor’s diet and demand spread throughout the world. Buy the book, get a course.
FREE with the purchase of Wine Folly: Magnum Edition. A classic example of this style of ham, that nearly all of us know, is the Italian favorite, Prosciutto. You’ll find ham in this style typically served in micro-thin sheets as a melt-in-your mouth appetizer. You’ll also do very well with a sparkling Rosé or even a sparkling red. This style is typically smoked but ranges in size from full-sized fresh hams that you bake in the oven to pre-sliced ham that you buy at the grocery store.
This less-sweet style of ham could also include processed ham like Mortadella and Spam. Since this style of ham is sweet, you’ll want to match with wines that are also sweet or taste very fruity. You might be surprised by some of the recommended pairings but they taste outstanding! Technically not ham, but fits the flavor profile! Pairing Ideas Here are a few pairing ideas for wine with ham to get you started. Hawaiian-Style Pizza Canadian bacon and pineapple may be a kid’s favorite but some of us still love it!