What wine to drink with your pancakes for Candlemas?

Wine Pairings with Crêpes for Candlemas: The Ultimate Guide

On February 2nd, both young and old celebrate Candlemas. Although this religious holiday, rooted in very old traditions, is still widely celebrated today, it is largely thanks to food lovers! Indeed, if there’s a day to make crêpes, it’s Candlemas. Discover through our guide everything you need to know about this celebration, as well as our tips for the best wine pairings with crêpes for Candlemas.

What is Candlemas?

While we commonly associate crêpes with Candlemas, it's important to remember that this celebration is primarily religious. Originally pagan and Latin, then Christian, Candlemas is a millennial tradition in Europe. Today, it is celebrated on February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas, symbolizing the day of the presentation of the Infant Jesus at the Temple. The name "Candlemas" actually comes from "candles," which were traditionally lit for this occasion.

So why eat crêpes on Candlemas? Simply because their round shape and golden color symbolize the return of sunny days and celebrate the cycle of the seasons. It is customary to flip a crêpe while holding the pan with the right hand and a coin in the left hand to ensure prosperity for the household.

The Best Wine Pairings with Savory Crêpes for Candlemas

While many people traditionally enjoy only sweet crêpes on Candlemas, some prefer to start with savory crêpes made from buckwheat. Here are some pairing ideas:

• For a "complete" buckwheat crêpe, garnished with melted cheese, ham, and egg, opt for a light red wine based on Pinot Noir from AOC Burgundy or Gamay from AOC Chiroubles.
• If you prefer more original savory crêpes, such as one with goat cheese and nuts or leeks and smoked salmon, choose a white wine made from Sauvignon Blanc from AOC Sancerre or AOC Pouilly-Fumé. Its fresh herb, flint, and citrus notes will bring a refreshing balance to your delicious recipes.

The Best Wine Pairings with Sweet Crêpes for Candlemas

In Brittany, sweet crêpes for Candlemas are often enjoyed with either dry or sweet cider, but wine can be a great choice too! Here are our tips for a successful wine pairing:

• For dark chocolate crêpes, go for a sweet natural red wine such as a bottle from AOC Maury Rouge. Served at room temperature, it will enhance your dark chocolate crêpes with notes of cocoa, dark fruit, and hazelnuts.
• For sugar crêpes or Crêpes Suzette, try a sweet Muscat-based cuvée from IGP Côte Catalane or AOC Muscat-de-Beaume-de-Venise. Its fresh fruit, peach, and floral notes, along with its balance of sweetness and acidity, will be perfect!
• If you prefer rich and indulgent crêpes, like those with salted caramel or chestnut cream, lighten your dessert with a slightly alcoholic and subtly sweet sparkling cuvée, such as a bottle from AOC Blanquette-de-Limoux or AOC Clairette-de-Die made using the ancestral method.

You now have all the keys to ensure a perfect wine pairing with your crêpes for Candlemas. At Avenue des Vins, you’ll undoubtedly find what you’re looking for with our cuvées directly sourced from estates and châteaux, delivered to your home. Explore our selection of dry and sweet white wines, reds, and sparkling wines to accompany your crêpes for Candlemas, and enjoy our best cuvées from all regions of France.

FAQ - Wine and crêpes

Can you drink red wine with sweet crêpes?

A dry, tannic red clashes with dessert sugar and turns bitter on the palate. With a sweet crêpe, reach instead for a naturally sweet wine or a mellow white, whose sweetness answers the filling.

What wine goes with salted caramel crêpes?

This rich filling calls for a wine that is low in alcohol and delicately sweet. An ancestral-method sparkling brings the freshness that lightens the dessert without covering the caramel note.

At what temperature should you serve a sweet wine with crêpes?

Pour a mellow white or a Muscat at around 8 to 10 °C. Too cold, its fruit and floral aromas close up; too warm, the sweetness feels heavy on the palate.

Cider or wine for Candlemas?

Cider stays the Breton tradition, yet wine opens up far more pairing options. A naturally sweet red on chocolate or a Muscat on a sugar crêpe adapts better to each filling.

What wine for an evening of both savory and sweet crêpes?

Plan two styles to follow the meal. A crisp dry white or a light red suits the buckwheat galettes, then a mellow white or a naturally sweet wine takes over for the sweet crêpes.