In the month of January, the Epiphany festival marks a perfect occasion to gather with family or friends around a delicious “galette des rois”. This centuries-old French tradition deserves to be accompanied by a wine that will highlight its flavors and create a perfect match.
Here are some suggestions to help you find the ideal wine to accompany your King’s cake.
The different kinds of king’s cakes and their specificities
Before choosing the wine that will accompany your galette, it is essential to know its characteristics in order to make the right choice. We mainly distinguish two types of galettes:
- The frangipane galette : made of puff pastry and filled with a cream based on almonds, this galette is the most common in France and offers a texture that is both soft and crunchy at the same time.
- The brioche cake: originating from the South of France, this version is made with brioche dough and often adorned with candied fruits and pearl sugar.
The other regional variants
There are also regional variations, such as the Normandy apple galette, the Breton salted butter galette, or even the Basque cream pastry and black cherry galette. These local variations can also influence the choice of wine.
Food-wine pairings for a frangipane king cake
The frangipane galette being the most common, we are going to focus on the food-wine pairings adapted to this type of galette.
- A brut champagne: a classic that brings a touch of elegance and enhances the freshness of the galette thanks to its fine bubbles and its liveliness in the mouth. By choosing a non-vintage champagne or a blanc de blancs, you will get a perfect match with your frangipane galette.
- A Crémant de Bourgogne: this alternative to champagne is just as interesting to accompany your king’s cake. The Crémant de Bourgogne generally offers a beautiful freshness and a slight acidity that balance the richness of the frangipane. Opt for a white Crémant or a rosé Crémant for a successful pairing.
- A semi-sweet sparkling wine: if you prefer a less dry wine, turn to a semi-sweet sparkling wine like a Vouvray or a Saumur. These wines, made from the Chenin Blanc grape variety, have a slight sweetness that pairs well with frangipane.
- A sweet white wine: for a more contrasting pairing, dare to match your frangipane tart with a sweet white wine such as Sauternes or Monbazillac. Their sweetness and aromatic intensity will coat the flavors of the tart.
Suggestions for a brioche or apple tart
To accompany a brioche or an apple galette, you can also opt for a brut champagne or a Burgundy cremant. However, other choices are available to you:
- A dry cider: cider, a traditional Norman beverage, pairs very well with the apple tart thanks to its slight acidity and refreshing bubbles. Cider is also suitable for a brioche tart, bringing a fruity note that highlights the indulgence of the latter.
- A dry and fruity white wine: if you prefer wine, opt for a dry white wine such as a Burgundy Chardonnay or a Loire Sauvignon Blanc. These wines, with their beautiful vivacity and fruit aromas, will offer a nice balance against brioche galette or apples.
The choice of the ideal wine to accompany a king’s cake will depend above all on the composition of the latter and your taste preferences. Do not hesitate to experiment with different pairings to find the one that will delight you the most. Whatever the case, favor wines offering a certain freshness and a beautiful balance to sublime your traditional cake.