Choosing the Right Wine to Go with Your Easter Menu

Ham seems to be a staple at our house for Easter dinner. Along with the ham we also like to serve a glass or two of our favorite wine. Here is the recipe I'll be using for my glazed baked ham and also some good wines that I like to serve along with my Easter ham dinner menu.

Glazed Baked Ham:

5 to 6 lb. rump half or shank portion ham
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup orange juice
2 Tbls. Dijon mustard

Place ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake in a 325 degree oven for about 11/2 hours or until it reaches a temperature of about 135 degrees. Brush about 1/2 cup of the prepared glaze over the ham and continue baking for another 30 to 45 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before carving. Serve remaining glaze.

To prepare the glaze, mix all the glaze ingredients together in a saucepan and cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved. After brushing 1/2 cup glaze over the baked, keep remaining glaze warm to serve over the ham.

Wines:

2008 S.A. Prum Essence Riesling: This is somewhat dry with flavors of apple and pear and hints of orange. It retails for about $12 a bottle and is available at most fine wine shops and liquor stores nationwide.
2008 Dr. L. Riesling: This Riesling is slightly tangy with citrus flavors and a hint of spice. It also retails for about $12 a bottle and is readily available at most wine and liquor shops.
Either of these Riesling wines would go perfect with baked ham.

Blass Yellow Label Brut Non-Vintage Wine: Brut sparkling wine is perfect for pairing with appetizers. It's light and will go well with your before dinner appetizers and won't fill you up before that big Easter Dinner is served. This one retails for only $7.99 per bottle and can be found at a number of wine shops or online.

2010 Raspberry Infusion: This is a perfect dessert wine to be served at the end of your Easter Dinner with a dessert. It captures the essence of freshly harvested raspberries. It's made at the St. Croix Vineyards here in the Upper Midwest. The price is $13.99 per bottle and is available at a number of wine shops or through St. Croix Vineyards.

Some menu suggestions you may also like to along with your baked ham could include a light fruit salad, a fresh vegetable like green beans with almonds, creamy scalloped potatoes, a basket of your favorite warm dinner rolls and topped all off with a light mousse dessert, served with that special dessert wine.

Sources: wine and food.com
wine.com
St. Croix Vineyards.com
personal experience & preferences