Melon paired with ham (in this case, prosciutto crudo) may sound like one of those food matches that can make every Italian easily go mad, but as it turns out, every Italian loves it! This is a classic appetizer, particularly suited for summer and spring. It often opens big lunches at ceremonies, but it can also be a light and super tasty snack for your aperitif. 

The history of prosciutto and melon originated from an ancient Roman belief. According to doctors of the time, the heat of the human body was created and maintained by a sort of “internal fire” which, by burning, heated and kept all parts of the body healthy. In line with the dictates of Hippocratic medicine, every food belongs to one of the four elements of nature, namely water, air, fire, and earth. Each of these elements has a corresponding pair, such as hot, cold, dry, and moist, which must be balanced in order to maintain good health and that internal fire still going. In fact, prosciutto and melon are a perfect balance in this context, as melon is a moist and cold food and goes very well with prosciutto, which is considered hot and dry.

It is not surprising that also other sweet and sour combinations were created in the same way back in the days, let’s just think about cheese with pears or peaches with wine. The balance of the elements in the recipe also implies that it is a healthy dish. In fact, ham and melon provide efficiency and physical prowess, even after a very tiring day due to the scorching heat.

Ham is an excellent source of protein and minerals, such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium, while melon provides beta-carotene, which includes vitamin A and fluids, essential for hot weather. Melon, thanks to beta-carotene, protects the skin and eyes from the sun's rays; prosciutto, on the other hand, eliminates fatigue and low blood pressure by acting on the muscles.

Pairing fruit with wine, however, is often quite difficult. Thanks to the versatility of Carpineto’s finest products, this can be easily fixed! If you can’t wait to try the prosciutto and ham combination, you should pair it with a glass of Dogajolo Toscano Bianco IGT 2024. This white 'Super-Tuscan' is produced from estate-grown vineyards, specifically cultivated after significant time and research to measure its ideal terroir. The vines are grown on the warm, dry-farmed hills within our Chianciano and Montepulciano estate in the Siena area. The expressive combination of Chardonnay, Grechetto, and Sauvignon Blanc produces structural depth with aromatic finesse.