What wine with a galette des rois? Here are the best pairings for a royal party! – Masculin.com

In January, the feast of the Epiphany marks a perfect opportunity to get together 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 pairing.

Here are some suggestions to help you find the ideal wine to accompany your galette des rois.

The different king 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. There are mainly two types of pancakes:

1. The frangipane pancake : composed of puff pastry and garnished with an almond-based cream, this pancake is the most widespread in France and offers a melting and crispy texture at the same time.
2. The brioche pancake : originating from the South of France, this version is made with brioche dough and often decorated with candied fruit and pearl sugar.

Other regional variants

There are also regional variations, such as the Norman apple galette, the Breton salted butter galette or the Basque custard and black cherry galette. These local variations can also influence the choice of wine.

Food and wine pairings for a galette des rois with frangipane

The frangipane galette being the most common, we will focus on the food and wine pairings adapted to this type of galette.

1. A raw champagne : a great classic which brings a touch of elegance and enhances the freshness of the cake thanks to its fine bubbles and its liveliness in the mouth. By choosing a non-vintage Champagne or a Blanc de Blancs, you will obtain a perfect match with your frangipane galette.
2. A Crémant de Bourgogne : this alternative to champagne is just as interesting to accompany your galette des rois. Crémant de Bourgogne generally offers a nice freshness and a slight acidity which balances the richness of the frangipane. Opt for a Crémant Blanc de Blancs or a Crémant Rosé for a successful pairing.

1. A semi-dry sparkling wine : if you prefer a less dry wine, opt for a semi-dry sparkling wine like a Vouvray or a Saumur. These wines made from the Chenin Blanc grape variety have a slight sweetness that goes well with frangipane.
2. A sweet white wine : for a more contrasting pairing, dare to pair your frangipane pancake with a sweet white wine such as Sauternes or Monbazillac. Their sweetness and aromatic intensity will coat the flavors of the cake.

Suggestions for a brioche or apple galette

To accompany a brioche galette or an apple galette, you can also opt for a brut champagne or a crémant de Bourgogne. However, other choices are available to you:

1. A raw cider : cider, a traditional Norman drink, goes very well with apple galettes thanks to its light acidity and refreshing bubbles. Cider is also suitable for a brioche pancake, bringing a fruity touch which highlights the deliciousness of the latter.
2. A dry and fruity white wine : If you prefer wine, opt for a dry white wine such as a Chardonnay from Burgundy or a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire. These wines, with great liveliness and fruit aromas, will offer a nice balance to brioche or apple pancakes.

The choice of the ideal wine to accompany a galette des rois will depend above all on the composition of the latter and your taste preferences. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different pairings to find the one that pleases you the most. Whatever the case, choose wines offering a certain freshness and good balance to enhance your traditional pancake.