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Not sure which wine to serve with ham? Our handy guide takes the guesswork out of pairing, helping you find the perfect match every time.
Ham is an incredibly versatile meat that can take centre stage at any occasion. It fits right in with a casual Sunday roast, a tapas night with friends, or as the star of your Easter feast.
For me, it always brings back memories of Christmas. My grandma would slow-cook a gammon joint, and we’d tuck into a sneaky slice or two in between unwrapping presents.
These days, ham comes in all sorts of styles – sweet, smoky, salty – which can make finding the perfect wine pairing feel a little tricky.
But, we’re all about making things simple. So, here are my top wine recommendations for ham.
Different types of ham
Before we dive right straight into pairings, let’s take a closer look at the different types of ham – because how it’s prepared and served makes all the difference when choosing the right wine.
Gammon – cured but unsmoked, usually roasted or boiled.
Honey-glazed ham – sweet and savoury with a sticky honey and mustard glaze.
Roast ham – lightly salted and oven-roasted.
Prosciutto – Italian, dry-cured ham that’s deliciously salty and thinly sliced.
Mortadella – a large, Italian sausage-like ham with subtle spices.
Parma ham – Spain’s answer to prosciutto, dry-cured and wonderfully flavoured.
Jamón Ibérico – a cured ham known for its intense flavour and texture. A staple in Spanish and Portuguese cuisine.
Black Forest ham – a smoky, dry-cured ham from Germany.
Country ham – a dry-cured, smoked ham popular in the United States.
White wines to pair with ham
Riesling
Riesling is a great all-rounder. With its naturally high acidity and vibrant flavours – ranging from green apple and pear to peach and apricot – it’s a superb match for cured, unsmoked styles like gammon, honey-glazed and roast ham. Its crispness refreshes the palate, while a touch of sweetness balances the meat’s saltiness.
Gewurztraminer
Medium-to-full-bodied Gewurztraminer is another great choice. Its bold aromatics, exotic floral notes and warm spices complement the saltiness of gammon and the sweet, citrusy glaze of honey-glazed ham. With bright acidity to cut through the richness, it creates a beautifully balanced pairing.
Pinot Grigio
Light and crisp, Pinot Grigio sings with notes of green apple and citrus, making it a top match for prosciutto. Its bright fruit complements the ham’s subtle sweetness, while its acidity balances the rich, velvety texture of the meat.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is wonderfully food-friendly wine. Its light, fruity character pairs brilliantly with the delicate spices of mortadella. With moderate acidity and notes of pear, apple and citrus, it enhances the meat’s smooth texture and subtle spice.
Red wines to pair with ham
Pinot Noir and Beaujolais
The best red wines to pair with ham are those that enhance, rather than overpower, the meat’s flavours.
You can’t go wrong with a juicy, fruity, low-tannin red like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais. Their light body, bright red fruit and gentle tannins complement salty hams like gammon and roast ham, while their acidity keeps the pairing balanced and refreshing.
Rioja
Do as the Spanish do … and pair the red wines of Rioja with Jamón Ibérico – a ham prized for its rich, nutty flavours and melt-in-the-mouth texture.
Crafted mainly from Tempranillo, a Rioja Reserva’s medium to full body, dark fruit fruits, and oak-aged smoothness complement the ham’s richness, while the tannins and acidity balance the meat’s signature saltiness.
There’s a reason you find this pairing in tapas bars across Rioja and beyond.
Zinfandel
The bold fruit flavours and peppery spice of Zinfandel complement Black Forest ham’s smoky, slightly sweet character. Its natural spice enhances the ham’s subtle seasoning, while the jammy blackberry and plum notes balance the saltiness. With a rich body and smooth tannins, it stands up to the ham’s intense flavours without overpowering them.
Rosé wines to pair with ham
Rosé is another versatile choice as you get bone dry to sweet styles. With vibrant acidity and refreshing berry flavours, it pairs beautifully with ham.
A crisp, dry rosé is a top choice for mortadella as it cuts through the meat’s creamy, fatty texture while enhancing the delicate spices. A rosé’s juicy berry notes balance the intense saltiness of country ham, while bright acidity keeps the pair fresh and lively.
Whether you opt for a classic Provençal rosé or a fuller-bodied Spanish rosado, rosé’s versatility makes it a perfect match for these savoury, slightly spicy hams.
Sparkling wines to pair with ham
Prosecco
Prosecco is crisp, easy-drinking and pleasingly aromatic. Its vibrant acidity, delicate fruit flavours (think green apple, melon, pear and lemon) and lively bubbles, it’s a superb match for prosciutto and Parma ham.
Both hams are dry-cured and naturally salty. Prosecco’s bright acidity and subtle sweetness balance the salt, while its fine bubbles cleanse the palate after each bite.
Prosecco and prosciutto are often served together in Italy – they’re a classic duo for a reason!
About the author
Brogan Wilson
Qualified to WSET Level 2 Wine, Brogan is a relatively new member of the team, having joined in September 2023. She previously worked as the sole copywriter at a creative marketing agency, and before that, as a primary school teacher. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find her growing her knowledge, asking lots of questions, and crafting both digital and print copy. An ardent red wine drinker, Brogan is also fond of Crémant.
