By Discount Liquor

A Red Or A White? Wine Is The Question… (Part 2)

Apr 12, 2022 | 9:21 AM

So now that you have your wine to go with the turkey, you find out last minute that your hosts burnt the turkey and have changed to ham….probably because they don’t have enough time to thaw another turkey before dinner. You set your first bottle on the counter, and head back to the liquor store.

So now what do you get?

My extensive online research – OK, I admit, I checked three food pairing websites – but the recommendations seem to be centered around specific wine growing regions. Those two regions are Germany and Italy.

Germany is a region that has traditionally been known to produce some of the finest smoked and salted meats in the world, so it makes sense that they would know a few things about pairing wines with ham. Of course, the kind of wine that you are going to want will depend on the preparation of the ham, whether it is spiced, glazed, etc.

The other thing I noticed is that some of the wines that pair well with turkey also appear on this list, so the bottle that you already have may still work for your…umm…revised dinner plans.

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Riesling

We saw Riesling on the turkey list, and it appears here as well. The acidity in an off dry Riesling pairs will with salty foods, and most articles say that if you are having a honey ham of some kind, stop reading now and just go buy a bottle.

Gewurztraminer

The first thing you need to do is learn how to pronounce this one. Don’t ask me…I had a hard enough time just typing it. Gewurztraminers tend to be a little spicier on the nose, and pair well if you are having ham that is prepared with a spice rub, ginger, or a fruit glaze such as apple or pineapple.

Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris is made from the same grape as Pinot Grigio – the difference is how it is finished in the winery. Pinot Gris has a little bit more robust flavour, while Pinot Grigio tends to be a little lighter and crisper in flavour lending to more of an Italian style of vinting. Flavour wise, Pinot Gris falls between the first two wines – higher acidity on the tongue than a Gewurz, and fuller bodied than a Reisling.

Pinot Noir

Here is another wine that pairs well with turkey as well, so if you already bought your Oyster Bay Pinot Noir you are already set. A pinot noir pairs well with smoked hams and hams that have a cherry glaze.

Tempranillo

Tempranillo is a Spanish style of red wine with a very full bodied flavour. Since you don’t want your wine to overpower the flavor your meat, this wine would be bust paired with a ham that is using a bolder, more aromatic spice rub than typically used.

Recommendations

Blue Nun Gewerztraminer (Germany) – $12.00

Anciano 7 Year Tempranillo (Spain) – $17.10

Gray Monk Pinot Gris (Canada) – $20.45

Bend In The River Riesling (Germany) – $13.50

**All prices subject to applicable taxes and deposit