Champagne & Food Pairing: Galette des Rois for Epiphany (Three Kings Day)

As the holiday season winds down, there’s one final celebratory moment before normal routines return. January 6, known as Epiphany or Three Kings Day, marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

In France, it is celebrated with the rich, buttery Galette des Rois, a traditional almond-filled pastry shared with family and friends. It’s a ritual that brings people back to the table one last time — and the perfect opportunity to explore one of champagne’s greatest strengths: its natural ability to pair beautifully with food.

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Champagne & Food Pairing Series

Champagne & Food Pairing is a series exploring how champagne works at the table, not just for special occasions, but for everyday meals and seasonal rituals. These articles reflect the philosophy behind my book ‘Celebrating Champagne: A Wine For All Seasons‘, where champagne is treated as one of the most versatile and food-friendly wines year-round.

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What is Three Kings Day (Epiphany)?

The Feast of the Epiphany marks the final day of the Twelve Days of Christmas, beginning December 25. It commemorates the arrival of the Three Wise Men — Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar — who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus.

While Epiphany has deep religious roots, it is also widely celebrated as a cultural and culinary occasion. In France, the day centers around gathering, sharing food, and extending the festive season just a little longer.

The Galette des Rois: A Sweet French Tradition

Galette des Rois served for Epiphany with the fève

The Galette des Rois is a round pastry made from buttery puff pastry and filled with frangipane, a smooth almond cream. Its golden, crown-like shape symbolizes the Three Kings and appears in bakeries across France throughout early January.

Hidden inside the galette is the fève, a small porcelain charm. Whoever finds it in their slice is crowned king or queen for the day and wears the paper crown that accompanies the cake. Traditionally, the youngest person at the table hides under the table and assigns slices at random, ensuring fairness and anticipation.

The galette is more than dessert; it is a shared ritual — turning a simple meal into a moment of celebration.

Champagne and Galette des Rois: Why the Pairing Works

Champagne paired with Galette des Rois for Epiphany

Galette des Rois is rich and buttery, with gentle sweetness and toasted almond notes from the frangipane. Champagne brings balance.

A Brut or Extra-Brut champagne works particularly well. Its natural acidity cuts through the richness of the pastry, while fine bubbles lift the texture of the filling, keeping the pairing light and refreshing rather than heavy. A Blanc de Blancs, with citrus and mineral notes, is especially well suited.

This is exactly why champagne excels at the table: it doesn’t compete with food, it sharpens it.

This principle underpins the approach throughout ‘Celebrating Champagne: A Wine For All Seasons’, where champagne is treated as a wine that belongs with food, from aperitif through to dessert.

Recommended Champagne Styles for Galette des Rois

• Brut or Extra-Brut: balances richness of the pastry – Champagne Bérêche & Fils Brut Réserve NV

• Blanc de Blancs: citrus and mineral notes lift the frangipane – Champagne Larmandier-Bernier ‘Latitude’ NV

• Champagne rosé: optional for a fruitier profile – Champagne André Clouet Rosé No 3 NV

Regional Variations Across France

Provençal brioche-style couronne cake with candied fruits for Three Kings Day

Galette des Rois varies by region:

• Northern and central France: Frangipane-filled puff pastry is most common.

• Provence and southern France: Brioche-style couronne, shaped like a crown and decorated with candied fruits.

Both styles pair beautifully with champagne. The lighter, less sweet couronne works particularly well with fruit-forward champagne styles.

The Last Day of the Christmas Season

For many households, January 6 marks the official end of the holiday season. Trees are packed away, decorations are removed, and routines resume. In France, the Fête des Rois offers a graceful farewell — a final indulgent moment shared with loved ones.

Three Kings Day Traditions Around the World

While France is best known for Galette des Rois, Epiphany is celebrated globally:

• Spain & Latin America: Roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped cake decorated with candied fruits, often hiding a figurine or bean.

• Italy: La Befana delivers small gifts on the night of January 5.

• Elsewhere: January 6 marks the close of festive celebrations with family gatherings or small rituals.

Across cultures, the theme is consistent: food, ritual, and togetherness.

A Final Toast

As the Twelve Days of Christmas conclude, a slice of Galette des Rois and a well-chilled glass of champagne make for a perfect final indulgence.

Bonne fête des Rois! 👑🍰🥂

This approach to pairing champagne with food is explored throughout Celebrating Champagne: A Wine For All Seasons, launching in the US in August. The book is designed to make champagne feel natural, flexible, and at home on the table year-round.

Continue the Journey

Want to explore more effortless champagne pairings? 🥂

In Celebrating Champagne: A Wine For All Seasons, I share practical, approachable ideas for pairing champagne with everyday dishes — from light bites to full meals — perfect for home cooks, hosts, and curious drinkers alike.

👉 Order the book in the USA on Amazon | Order in Australia on Booktopia and my website

If you enjoy simple, elegant food and wine pairings like this one, you’ll find many more ideas in the book, all designed to make champagne feel natural and effortless at the table.

Santé et bon appétit!

Sally Hillman
Grower Champagne specialist, educator, and author of ‘Celebrating Champagne: A Wine For All Seasons’