Veuve Ambal Crémant de Bourgogne - Visite du site de production
WINE TOUR
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On 04 January 2021
The Galette des Rois: the new year’s tradition
It’s customary to enjoy your Galette des Rois on the first Sunday in January. This year, you'll have just enough time to recover from the New Year's Eve blow-out. Indeed, the first Sunday falls on 3 January.
So why not make the pleasure last a little longer. The Galette-eating period usually runs from Epiphany, on 6 January, to Mardi Gras. This tradition goes back to the Romans, who celebrated the Saturnalia by designating the king or queen of the day by means of a charm hidden in a cake.
The recipe for Galette in Burgundy is generally traditional: two puff pastries with frangipane inside – a preparation made with almond, sugar, eggs and butter. Its beautiful golden appearance is difficult to resist. But all this makes you thirsty. And that's a good thing, because in Burgundy, we have our Crémant that goes perfectly with Galette des Rois.
What wine goes best with Galette des Rois 2021?
The alternative to cider is here: Crémant de Bourgogne. Made using the traditional method, formerly the "Champagne method", this sparkling wine goes perfectly with the cake’s sweet almond flavour.
The grape varieties used provide a nice acidity and very pleasant bubbles: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, as well as Gamay Noir with its white juice (no more than 20% of the grape blend), Aligoté, Melon and Sacy. If you want to know more about this traditional method, the Burgundy Wine website is very helpful.
Veuve Ambal: Crémants de Bourgogne for your Galette
If you head south along the A6, you’ll see the Veuve Ambal premises, a producer of Crémant de Bourgogne for 6 generations. Suffice to say it’s a real family affair. What could be better than a family history to place in the middle of your table to accompany your cake. And there’s a Crémant for every bubble-lover: organic Crémant, Blanc de Blanc, aged in oak barrels and the classics.
Here is our pick:
- The Classic Cuvée of Veuve Ambal in semi-dry white: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligoté and Gamay
Tips from our winemaker: Thérèse Besancenot
Thérèse manages her estate in the heart of Beaune. And yes, in Burgundy, our Estates are happy to set up shop in our town centres. And this isn’t new, at Domaine Besancenot, where winemaking is passed down from father to son and daughter. For our Galette des Rois 2021, Thérèse offers us two choices:
- A white Crémant de Bourgogne and a rosé that’s more fruity with fine bubbles to tickle the palate
- An old, white, nicely rounded Burgundy with aromas of honey and butter to accompany this sweet cake
Tips from our winemakers to enjoy your 2021 cake
Head for Faubourg Madeleine to visit Mon Millésime. For Philippe, a specialist in old bottles that have lain forgotten in the cellars and which turn out to be treasures for the taste buds, the choice came down to Crémant, of course, along with two little Burgundy discrepancies:
- Crémant de Bourgogne "Les Terroirs" from Chez Picamelot
- Condrieu 2017 from Rostaing
- Champagne by Bruno Paillard
Before leaving Beaune, stop off at Monsieur Prat, les Millésimes à la Carte. Here, you’ll discover gems that are well worth a visit. The Crémant undoubtedly once again takes Pole position, with no hesitation over this fresh, sparkling wine. Monsieur Prat's second choice is more surprising because it’s a sweet wine:
- Crémant de Bourgogne brut or rosé
- Sweet wine: Cuvée des Caves d'Azé "les Vendanges de la Saint Martin" (this is a Chardonnay harvested in mid-November, on Macon Villages and Virey-Clissey)
- Ratafia, which subtly blends the fruity sweetness of liqueur wines with the character of an excellent Marc
- With a frangipane or apple cake:
- With couronne bread or chocolate cake:
