The King Cake, a staple of the first Sunday in January, marks the celebration of Epiphany, bringing a blend of creativity and culinary delight to the start of the new year. Nowadays, chefs are innovating to give this tradition a new twist, moving beyond the much-loved classic frangipane to introduce a variety of new flavors.

Pairing the King Cake with wine opens up a world of exploration within the vineyard. It's also an opportunity to uncover some of the lesser-known delights from Xavier Vignon's wine selection!

The traditional King Cake, with its subtle puff pastry, features quality AOP butter from Charentes, Brittany, or Poitou and finely ground almonds, all crafted by the skilled hands of a pastry chef. When enjoyed warm, this classic cake can be paired with an aged rum from Martinique for a touch of local pride or a VSOP cognac. Its apple variant naturally complements a not-too-sweet cider or perry and even a calvados to maintain regional authenticity. When flavored with orange blossom, a fine muscat harvest is ideal, enhancing the citrus notes with a floral touch. Generally, the pairing strategy focuses on counterpoint, seeking to balance the sweetness and flavors of the pastry, while creating either contrasting or harmonious taste experiences.

The perfect match: Xavier Vignon's 2022 white Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise. This small-grain muscat focuses on fruitiness and freshness, with hints of peach, citrus, and apricot. The wine ideally complements the galette's sweetness, enhancing its almond notes to create an irresistible duo.

The origins of the King Cake remain shrouded in mystery. It's known that Epiphany, celebrated on January 6 by Catholics and January 19 by Orthodox Christians, commemorates the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem to honor the birth of Christ. However, the tradition of sharing a King Cake isn't directly linked to Christianity. Instead, it's believed to be a tribute to the Roman Saturnalia: a special day where slaves would share a cake with the Romans. Finding a bean in the cake would crown them as "Princes of Saturnalia," granting them their desires for a day. As for frangipane, it's attributed to Count Cesare Frangipani, who reportedly gave his namesake recipe to Catherine de Medici.

One thing is certain: Be ready for Sunday, January 6, 2024!

Remember, excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health. Please drink responsibly.