Yesterday was Epiphany! This celebration inherited from Christianity has given rise to a very gourmet tradition that appears on our tables every January: the galette des rois. But what to drink with this famous galette des rois?
The origins of the galette des rois
The galette des rois traces its origins back to ancient Rome, more precisely to the Saturnalia (the Roman festivals held from the end of December to the beginning of January to celebrate the winter solstice). During these festivities, the Romans had the custom of appointing a slave as "king for the day." To do this, within each large family, the Romans used the bean from a cake to draw lots for the prince of the Saturnalia. The slave, king for the day, thus had the power to have all his wishes granted for one day.
Since the 14th century, a galette des rois or a king cake has been eaten on this occasion. Traditionally, the pastry is shared into as many pieces as there are guests, plus one. This extra piece was called the "God’s share" or "poor man’s share" and was intended for the first poor person who showed up at the door. To ensure the distribution of the pieces was completely random, the custom was for the youngest to sit under the table and name the recipient of each piece in turn.
Nowadays, sharing the galette is more associated with the celebration of the Magi on the occasion of Epiphany.
The best drinks to pair with the galette
Cider: the classic! Semi-dry cider (the perfect match to enhance the bitterness of the almond in the frangipane), or brut (ideal to balance a galette des rois with very sweet notes like pistachio or praline).
A crémant: from Burgundy, Alsace, or Jura, pairs perfectly with galettes featuring notes of orange blossom, citrus, or fruit.
A sparkling wine from the Loire such as Vouvray or Montlouis-sur-Loire will go wonderfully with an apple or pear galette.
Prefer wine? A white wine will be ideal. However, we advise avoiding wines that are too sweet. So leave any sweet or dessert wines like Sauternes or Coteaux-du-layon in the cellar. Instead, opt for a fresh and light wine such as a white Burgundy.
The king’s choice? A brut champagne, lightly sweetened, it will be perfect to accompany any galette. With it, anything is possible; there will be no misstep.
What to drink with a brioche des rois?
Sweeter soft cider pairs very well with the Provençal brioche des rois.
A fortified muscat (whose fermentation was abruptly stopped by adding pure alcohol) or a Jurançon will enhance brioches with fruity and sweet flavors.
If the brioche is plain, a soft and smooth sweet wine like Gewurztraminer will pair very well with the buttery notes of the brioche.
If you want sparkling wine, the Clairette de Die with its floral aromas will be the perfect match for an orange blossom brioche.
Your cellar is empty? We surely have the wine you need in our shop!
