Buy Iberian Ham and Spanish Wines ONLINE in Wine&Ham

About Iberian Ham (Jamón Ibérico)

Dry cured ham has been a traditional staple of the European diet for centuries. Perhaps the best-known types are Italian Parma Ham, Germany’s Westphalian (smoked) Ham or the French Jambon de Bayonne.

Anyone who has tried Spanish Ham believes it deserves to be equally as well known.  The surge of interest in Spanish food over the last few years has meant that more and more people throughout Europe and the rest of the world are discovering what is undoubtedly one of Spain’s culinary treasures – Jamón Ibérico, or Iberian Ham.

Jamón Ibérico, owes its name to the Iberian Pig (Cerdo Ibérico) which can be found only in certain regions of the Iberian Peninsula where geography and climate have combined over the centuries to produce an environment which is unique to the Peninsula, known as the Dehesa.  The Dehesa is found mainly in the southern and western regions of the peninsula, and during the autumn and winter months produces an abundance of acorns from the native evergreen oaks and fresh pasture, the staple food of the Iberian Pig during the final stages of its maturing.

It is this unique diet, combined with the Iberian Pig’s almost unique capacity to absorb and distribute the fats from the acorns throughout its muscular tissue that gives the Iberian Hams their incomparable combination of flavours and textures.

But well fed, pure bred, free-ranging Iberian Pigs in themselves are not sufficient for producing top quality Jamón Ibérico.  The local climate is also a key factor, with cold dry winters and hot summers being essential to complete the curing and ageing processes.  Under the watchful eye of the maestro jamonero who will oversee the Hams from start to finish, the whole process can take between 3 and 4 years for the best Jamón Ibérico.

Buying a Ham

For the Spanish a Ham is an everyday purchase.  Most people have a Ham hanging around in the kitchen and it will be used to make the children’s sandwiches for school, or as a starter for almost any meal of the day.  They will buy a really good Ham for a special occasion such as the summer holidays or Christmas.  Indeed, the typical Christmas present from employers to employees or from a company to its customers is a good Ham.

For discerning consumers who don’t live in Spain, getting hold of the best quality Iberian Ham is less easy.  Because of the complex nature of the curing processes involved, no two Hams are identical – the Ham from the left leg may differ slightly from the Ham made from the right leg of the same pig depending how the pig developed, where the piece was hung in the drying room, how long it was cured for etc.

The range of products and the terminology can also be confusing even for the connoisseur.  Jamón Ibérico, Paleta Ibérica, Caña de Lomo, Lomito, Salchichon, Chorizo, Bellota, Recebo, Cebo, Reserva, Gran Reserva are just a few of the terms purchasers have to contend with.

About Wine & Ham UK

The best way to guarantee a good Ham is to buy from a recognised supplier who knows what they are talking about and whose products have been specially selected.  However, finding one from a distance can be tricky, which is where Wine & Ham UK can help.

Working with specialist suppliers in Seville, at the heart of the Iberian Ham producing region, we offer an accessible way to buy not only the best Iberian Ham but also a range of other top quality Spanish produce.

Wine & Ham UK Ltd is a UK registered company founded in 2007 to make top quality, authentic Iberian Ham and a range of other Spanish delicacies more widely available.

The company has worked in association with Seville's leading distributors to provide a selection of some of the finest Iberian gourmet products from several of the leading "Denominaciones de Origen" as well as over 200 Spanish wines, cavas and sherry vinegars.

Trade Customers

Our main collaborators are professionals with many years experience of supplying not only the vibrant tapas bar and restaurant trade in Seville, but also throughout Spain.

If you are established bar/restaurant, or are simply looking to start up a new business, why not email us at professionals@wineandham.com , give us an idea of your requirements and let us help you out.

By negotiating directly with producers and distributors in Spain we will prepare you a personalised quotation giving you best possible prices, quality and delivery terms. To assist us we would need the following information:

-       Type of business

-       Type of products required (Jamones, Paletas, Embutidos Ibéricos, Spanish Wines, Olive Oils, Cheeses etc)

-       Your location

-       Approximate quantities per month

Proveedores

Si Usted es fabricante y/o distribuidor de productos relevantes a nuestras páginas y le interesaría poder comercializarlos a través de nuestra web, por favor póngase en contacto con nosotros a professionals@wineandham.com y les explicaremos más en detalle nuestra forma y filosofía de trabajar.