Delicious Easter Ham and Wine Pairings

Ham on Easter is a staple that many families enjoy and look forward to!  If you’re looking for wine pairings that will bring out the best in your Easter meal, enjoy our suggested pairings with this delicious glazed ham recipe:

Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Recipe:

Ingredients:

·  1 5 to 6-pound cooked bone-in ham

·  1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar

·  1-1/2 cups red wine vinegar

·  4 sprigs fresh mint (each sprig about 2 inches)

·  Green onions and leeks (optional)

·  Cracked black pepper (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. If desired, score ham by making diagonal cuts 1 inch apart in fat in a diamond pattern. Place on rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer. Thermometer should not touch bone. Bake until thermometer registers 125 degrees F. For rump, allow 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours; for shank, allow 1-3/4 to 2 hours.

2. Meanwhile, for glaze, in a medium saucepan stir together sugar, vinegar, and mint sprigs. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, about 30 minutes or until reduced to 1 cup. Remove from heat. Remove and discard mint. Brush ham with some of the glaze.

3. Bake ham for 20 to 30 minutes more or until thermometer registers 135 degrees F, brushing three more times with additional glaze.  Sprinkle with pepper. Let stand 15 minutes before carving. (The meat’s temperature will rise 5 degrees F during standing to the safe temperature of 140 degrees F.) Serve meat on a platter layered with green tops of uncooked leeks and green onions, if desired. Sprinkle with pepper, if desired. Bring any remaining glaze to boiling and serve with ham. Makes 16 to 20 servings.

Recipe Courtesy of Better Homes and Garden

Suggested wine pairing for your Easter ham: 

 1. Saint Clair – Vicars Choice 2010 Pinot Noir

Some of the most exciting new Pinot Noirs are coming from New Zealand.  This is a full bodied Pinot Noir filled with notes of baked cherry pie and spice.  Oak aged, this wine has a long lush finish.  A very simple glaze of brown sugar and red wine perfectly balances the rich, salty ham.

 2. Andrian Gewurztraminer

This northern Italian winemaker in the German-speaking area of Italy has been making wine since 1893.  This Gewurztraminer is off-dry. full-bodied and highly aromatic.

This wine is full of apricots, flowers, jasmine, lychees, roses and spices.  This wine is filled with enough sweet fruit to balance the salt in the ham and enough acidity to support the combination of the wine and ham.

Enjoy!