Christmas ham is a festive roast, often glazed sweet and studded with clove — salty, sweet and savoury, the centrepiece of the holiday table. The salty meat and sweet, spiced glaze pair best with fruit-forward, off-dry wines whose fruit echoes the glaze and acidity cuts the salt. Off-dry Riesling is the classic, while a fruity rosé or light red also suits. The wine should be festive and fruit-forward; a touch of sweetness against the glaze and acidity against the salty ham make a harmonious, celebratory match for Christmas ham.
Our sommelier's picks
Save to PinterestOff-dry aromatic white
8–11°C (46–52°F)Riesling · Mosel, Germany
Off-dry Riesling's fruit mirrors the sweet glaze while its acidity cuts the salty ham — the classic festive match.
Mosel Kabinett is ideal and affordable.
Aromatic white
10–12°C (50–54°F)Gewürztraminer · Alsace, France
Its lychee and spice flatter the clove and sweet glaze.
Alsace offers reliable quality.
Fruity rosé
8–10°C (46–50°F)Grenache · Spain
A fruit-forward rosé refreshes against the salty-sweet ham and suits the festive table.
Spanish rosado is great value.
Juicy chilled red
13–15°C (55–59°F)Gamay · Beaujolais, France
Cru Beaujolais's fruit flatters the ham without heavy tannin.
Cru Beaujolais is great value.
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Questions about pairing Christmas Ham
What wine pairs with Christmas ham?
Off-dry aromatic whites like Riesling and Gewürztraminer — their fruit echoes the sweet, clove-spiced glaze while their acidity cuts the salty ham.
Why off-dry wine with glazed ham?
A little sweetness mirrors the honey or sugar glaze, while bright acidity balances the salt for a harmonious festive match.
Can I serve red wine with Christmas ham?
Yes — a fruity, low-tannin red like Beaujolais served slightly cool flatters the ham.