What Wine Goes with Christmas Ham?
Tawny Port or an off-dry Riesling from Germany. The ham's saltiness and brown-sugar glaze need sweetness and depth, which both of these deliver.
Top pairings at a glance
Tawny Port (10-year or older)
Fortified wine from Portugal. Ask for it in the fortified section or by the glass, around $8-12 per 2-ounce pour.
Aged in wood, so it brings caramel, nut, and spice notes that mirror the ham's glaze and complement the salt. A smaller pour goes a long way.
German Riesling Spätlese
Look for 'Spätlese' on the label (sweeter than Kabinett). If staying with table wine, this is the choice.
Off-dry Riesling has enough residual sugar to flatter the ham without being overly sweet. Acidity cuts through the salt and richness.
Alsatian Pinot Gris
Fuller-bodied than Pinot Grigio, dry, with good minerality. Ask for 'Alsace Pinot Gris.'
Drier than the other options but fuller-bodied. Works if you want a white that doesn't compete with the ham's richness and saltiness.
How to think about christmas ham and wine
Glazed ham is salty and often has a brown-sugar or honey glaze. The wine needs to complement the glaze without fighting the salt. Tawny Port brings caramel and nut flavors that mirror the glaze and complement salt beautifully. It's also smaller (2 ounces per pour), so the cost-per-glass is often lower than table wine. If you prefer table wine, German Riesling Spätlese works because the residual sugar matches the glaze and acidity cuts through the salt.
On the wine list, look for 'Tawny Port' in the fortified section or ask the server if it's available by the glass. If not, ask for 'off-dry German Riesling' or 'Alsatian Pinot Gris.' Tawny Port comes in 10-year, 20-year, and LBV (Late Bottled Vintage) expressions. The older the tawny, the higher the price, but even a 10-year is delicious and less expensive than many wines.
What to avoid
Dry white wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio) taste thin next to ham's richness and saltiness. Light reds like Pinot Noir lack the complementary sweetness the dish needs.
Value tip
Tawny Port is exceptional value. A 10-year Tawny often costs less per glass than table wine, and the smaller pour size means a single glass lasts through the meal.
Common questions
What's the difference between Tawny and Ruby Port?
Ruby Port is younger and fruitier, with more sweetness and less complexity. Tawny is aged in wood barrels, so it's drier and has caramel and nut notes that pair better with ham's richness.
Can I drink a red wine instead of Port or Riesling?
Pinot Noir can work, but it lacks the sweetness and depth that make the pairing sing. Stick with Tawny Port or off-dry Riesling for the best results.
Does rosé work with ham?
Rosé's acidity handles ham's saltiness, but it lacks the depth and complementary sweetness that Port or Riesling bring. Try rosé if nothing else is available, but it's not the first choice.
Get picks from the actual wine list
General advice only goes so far. Go Somm reads the wine list in front of you and picks the best value for your table in seconds.
Join the Waitlist