Paris: French Wine and Cheese Guided Tasting

The clever part of this Paris tasting is that it teaches you how to taste, not just what to drink. Simon begins with French wine regions, grapes, and climate, then trains your nose with perfume samples before guiding you through two whites, two reds, and champagne. Each glass comes with a different cheese.

I like the intimate setting at L’OenoVice and Simon’s easy, humorous way of explaining a subject that can feel fussy. I also like the practical payoff: after two hours, you will have a better idea how to read a wine list and match wine with food. The main consideration is price: at $82 per person, this is a tasting class rather than a full meal, so it suits curious wine drinkers more than anyone seeking dinner.

Key points at a glance

• Five wines in a clear progression: Taste two white wines, two reds, and finish with champagne.
• Five regional cheese pairings: Each cheese is matched to a wine so you can notice how one changes the other.
• Simon teaches the useful basics: Learn to look, smell, and taste wine without needing prior experience.
• Perfume samples sharpen your nose: Compare wine aromas with familiar scents to identify what you are smelling.
• Small-group atmosphere: The experience is limited to eight people, with plenty of room for questions.
• A practical Paris lesson: Leave with better ideas for choosing wine in restaurants and pairing it with meals.

Starting at L’OenoVice with Simon

The experience begins at L’OenoVice, Simon’s wine bar. It is a small, informal setting rather than a grand cellar or a formal school, which helps keep the mood relaxed. The bar has been described as charming and intimate, with the sort of neighborhood feel that makes a tasting more personal.

You meet Simon there and begin with a short introduction to wine. He explains how French wine is shaped by place, including the effects of climate, grape type, and geography. That matters in France, where the region on the label often tells you as much as the grape itself.

This opening is useful if you know little about wine, but it also gives experienced drinkers something to think about. The goal is not to bury you in technical terms. Simon uses maps and visual material to explain the main French wine areas, then connects those places to the wines in front of you.

The group can be as small as two people and is limited to eight. That is a real advantage here. You are not sitting in a large class waiting for your turn to ask a question. Simon can adjust the pace, explain a point again, and respond to different levels of wine experience.

Learning to taste before taking the first sip

Many people drink wine without paying attention to the order of the senses. Simon slows the process down. First, you look at the wine and consider its color. Then you smell it. Only after that do you taste.

This simple sequence gives you a way to talk about wine without pretending to be an expert. The color can suggest age or style, while the aroma gives clues about fruit, flowers, herbs, spices, or other scents. The taste then confirms or challenges what your eyes and nose suggested.

The perfume samples are one of the more unusual parts of the class. Instead of asking you to identify mysterious aromas from thin air, Simon gives you familiar scents to compare with the wine. This makes the smell stage less intimidating and helps you notice how much your nose contributes to tasting.

You do not need prior wine experience. Several parts of the session are designed for beginners, and Simon explains the process in accessible language. At the same time, the format gives regular wine drinkers a chance to refine habits they may have picked up casually.

Two white wines and five cheeses

The tasting includes two glasses of white wine, each paired with a different cheese. This is where the lesson moves from theory to something you can immediately understand.

Cheese can change the way wine tastes. A salty, creamy, sharp, or earthy cheese may make a wine seem softer, fruitier, brighter, or less pleasant. By trying each wine with its designated cheese, you can compare the pairing rather than treating the wine as a stand-alone drink.

The selections focus on French wines and cheeses from different regions. The regional link gives the tasting a useful sense of place, even though the main aim is not to memorize a list of appellations. You begin to see how French food and wine traditions fit together.

I like this part because it makes the material concrete. A lecture about acidity or texture can pass over your head. A bite of cheese followed by a sip of wine gives you an immediate answer. You can also use the lesson later when ordering in Paris, especially if a menu includes a cheese course or a regional wine you do not recognize.

Do not expect a full cheese board or a substitute for lunch. The portions are arranged for tasting and comparison. The cheese is important to the class, but the experience remains a guided lesson with food samples, not a meal.

Two red wines and the pairing lesson

The next stage brings two red wines. Simon continues to guide you through the color, aroma, and taste, while explaining the wine’s regional background and how it works with food.

Red wine often makes the differences between pairings easy to notice. A full, firm red can overpower a delicate cheese, while another red may work better with a stronger or more aged flavor. The point is not to declare one pairing universally correct. It is to show you how balance works and to help you identify your own preferences.

Simon also explains how to choose wine for meals. That advice is especially useful in Paris, where a restaurant wine list can be longer and more regional than you expect. You may not remember every producer, but you can leave with a better sense of what to ask for and what styles you enjoy.

The class is not about showing off. Simon’s humor and patience help take the pressure off, and the small group makes it easier to admit when a wine term or region is unfamiliar. If you are traveling with someone who already knows a fair amount about wine, the format still works because the conversation can develop through questions.

Finishing with champagne

The final pour is champagne. This gives the tasting a pleasant change of pace after the still whites and reds, and it ends the session on a celebratory note.

You taste five wines in total, but the pours are presented as a sequence rather than five unrelated samples. The order lets you compare styles and consider how the sensation changes from one glass to the next. The champagne also gives Simon another chance to explain how style and place affect what you taste.

One particularly personal detail mentioned by a past participant was that Simon’s family produces the champagne served during a session. Availability can vary, so you should not assume this will always be the bottle poured, but it shows the kind of direct connection to wine that can make a small bar tasting feel more personal than a generic tasting counter.

Because the experience includes alcohol, it is not suitable for pregnant women or anyone under 18. You should also plan your day sensibly around five tastings, even though the activity lasts only two hours.

What makes Simon’s teaching effective

Simon’s greatest strength is his ability to connect facts with practical use. He covers French wine geography, history, grapes, climate, aroma, tasting technique, and food pairing, but the information is not presented as a dry list.

You may learn why two wines made from different grapes taste different, or why the same grape can produce a different result in another part of France. The exact examples depend on the wines selected for your session, but the teaching is built around comparison.

I also like that the class welcomes questions. Simon has been described as patient, funny, and willing to adapt the session to the group. That matters because wine tastings can easily become one-way talks. Here, you have a better chance to ask about a bottle you saw on a restaurant menu or a style you want to try.

His English is suitable for the activity, and the session is offered in English or French. One note is that Simon has a noticeable accent, so you may need to listen carefully at times. The small setting and opportunity to ask questions help with that.

Is $82 a fair price?

At $82 per person, this is not the cheapest way to taste French wine in Paris. You could spend less on a glass of wine and a cheese plate at a bar. That comparison is not quite fair, though, because this includes five wine tastings, five cheese pairings, and two hours of guided instruction.

The value depends on what you want. If your main goal is simply to drink wine, the price may feel high, especially since no meal is included. If you want to understand what you are drinking and take that knowledge into the rest of your trip, the cost is easier to justify.

The class also gives you a focused experience in a small group. That means more direct time with Simon and less of the rushed feeling found in large tasting events. Several participants have used what they learned to buy favorite bottles afterward, though you should arrange any shipping of wine home yourself. Advice about sending bottles internationally is not included.

For a first-time visitor who wants one organized food-and-drink activity, I consider the price reasonable, provided you think of it as a lesson with tastings rather than a two-hour meal.

Who should book this experience?

This is a strong choice for:

• First-time wine drinkers who want simple explanations
• Couples looking for a quiet Paris activity
• Food lovers interested in French cheese and regional pairings
• Experienced wine drinkers who enjoy comparing styles and asking detailed questions
• Visitors who want practical help ordering wine in French restaurants
• Small groups that prefer conversation over a large organized tour

It is less suitable if you want a full lunch, a long cellar visit, or a broad food tour with many stops. The experience takes place in one wine bar and concentrates on learning, smelling, tasting, and pairing.

The wheelchair accessibility is a useful feature, but you should still confirm current arrangements when booking if you have specific access needs. The meeting point is L’OenoVice, and you should arrive at the stated start time rather than waiting outside before opening hours. One person arrived very early and initially thought the bar was difficult to find, only to discover that it was not open yet.

The activity lasts two hours, with starting times based on availability. Free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later, which is useful when planning a busy Paris schedule.

My verdict: book it if you want more than a cheese plate

I recommend this tasting if you want to understand French wine in a friendly, low-pressure setting. Simon’s mix of regional context, perfume-based aroma work, tasting technique, and cheese pairing gives the experience more substance than a simple pour-and-snack session.

The main drawback is the fixed price for a relatively small amount of food. You will not leave having eaten dinner, and you may find $82 high if you are already confident choosing wine. But if you are curious, enjoy French cheese, and want advice you can use at restaurants for the rest of your trip, this is a smart two-hour investment.

Book it early if you want a particularly intimate session, since the group limit is eight. Go ready to ask questions, take the tasting slowly, and notice how each cheese changes the wine. That is where the real value lies.

FAQ

How long does the French wine and cheese tasting last?

The activity lasts two hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $82 per person.

Where does the tasting take place?

You meet Simon at L’OenoVice, his wine bar in Paris.

How many wines are included?

The tasting includes five wines: two whites, two reds, and one champagne.

How much cheese is included?

You taste five kinds of cheese, with a different cheese paired with each wine.

Is the tasting suitable for beginners?

Yes. Simon explains the basics of looking at, smelling, and tasting wine, along with French wine regions, grapes, climate, and food pairings.

What languages are available?

The live guide is available in English and French.

How large is the group?

It is a small-group activity limited to eight participants.

Is the activity suitable for children or pregnant women?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18 or pregnant women.