Paris: French Wine and Cheese Guided Tasting

The clever twist here is the perfume-smell exercise. Before tasting, Simon helps you compare wine aromas with familiar scents, so you learn to notice more than simply sweet, dry, strong, or weak. I like that this turns wine tasting into a practical skill rather than a parade of bottles. I also like the personal touch of tasting Champagne from Simon’s family.

The small group, limited to eight, gives you room to ask questions and talk through each pairing. The main consideration is the alcohol: five glasses in two hours, plus cheese, is a substantial tasting, so this is not a good fit if you are pregnant, under 18, or hoping for a light, alcohol-free activity.

Key Points

• Five wines with five cheeses: Taste two white wines, two reds, and one Champagne, each matched with a different cheese.
• Simon’s family Champagne: The final glass has a personal link to Simon’s family vineyard.
• Perfume samples train your nose: Use scent comparisons to identify aromas in the wines.
• French wine made understandable: Learn how grape, climate, and region change the taste.
• A genuinely small group: With no more than eight people, questions and conversation are part of the lesson.
• A practical Paris skill: Leave better prepared to choose wine in restaurants and pair bottles with meals.

Starting at L’Oeno’Vice With Simon

You meet Simon at L’Oeno’Vice, his Paris wine bar, for a two-hour session built around tasting and conversation. The setting matters. This is not a lecture in a large classroom where you sit silently and wait for the next slide. It is a wine-bar lesson, and Simon adjusts the discussion to the people at the table.

That makes the experience friendly for beginners. You do not need to know the difference between a Burgundy and a Bordeaux before arriving. Simon first works out what you already know, then explains the subject in plain terms. If you have spent years tasting wine, you can still ask more detailed questions about grapes, regions, or food pairing.

The group size is one of the best practical features. Eight people is small enough for Simon to hear everyone and large enough for a bit of social energy. You might be seated with couples, friends, or solo participants, and the format encourages people to compare what they smell and taste.

English and French are available. The activity is also listed as wheelchair accessible, which is useful when planning a Paris schedule around mobility needs.

The First Lesson: Why French Wine Tastes Different

Simon begins with the basics: the history of wine, France’s major wine regions, and the forces that shape what ends up in your glass. The useful part is not memorizing a long list of place names. It is learning why the same broad type of grape can taste different when grown in another place.

You look at the effect of climate, grape variety, and location. A cooler area may produce a wine with a different balance from one made in a warmer climate. Soil and local practice also help explain why French wine is often identified by its region rather than only by its grape.

Simon’s family connection to wine gives this opening section a personal angle. He was born into a vineyard family, and his work at L’Oeno’Vice grows from that background. You get a sense of wine as farming, place, family, and food, not just a product with a clever label.

This is especially helpful if French wine labels have always felt confusing. Instead of treating the label as a test, Simon gives you a way to read it. You begin to understand that the bottle can tell you where the wine comes from and what local tradition shaped it.

Looking, Smelling, and Tasting the Right Way

The tasting follows a simple three-part method. First, you look at the wine and note its color. Next, you smell it. Only then do you taste it.

That order may sound basic, but it changes how you pay attention. I like that Simon does not treat tasting as a contest to see who can produce the fanciest description. You are encouraged to notice your own response and explain it in ordinary language.

The perfume samples make this part more interactive. Simon uses different scents to help you connect an aroma with something familiar. This is useful because most people can smell more than they think, but they need a reference point. You may not immediately name a precise fruit or flower, but you can often recognize a similar scent when it is placed beside you.

The activity includes guess-the-smell moments, which add some humor and keep the lesson from becoming stiff. You can be wrong without feeling embarrassed. That relaxed tone is important for anyone who has avoided wine tastings because the language seemed too formal.

I would not expect a technical sommelier qualification in two hours. You are learning a clear method that you can use at dinner: look at the wine, smell it, taste it, and think about how it changes with food.

Two Whites, Two Reds, and Family Champagne

The central tasting includes five glasses of wine: two whites, two reds, and a final Champagne. Each glass comes with one of five cheeses, so the food is not an afterthought placed on a plate for decoration.

You taste the wine on its own, then with the cheese. That comparison is where the lesson becomes practical. A cheese can soften, sharpen, or change your sense of a wine. The same glass may seem different after a bite of food, and Simon explains why the pairing works.

The exact bottles can vary, so you should not book this expecting a named vintage or a fixed list of labels. The point is the contrast between styles and the way different cheeses affect them. You are tasting to understand, not simply collecting samples.

The final Champagne has an extra personal note because it comes from Simon’s family. That gives the close of the session more meaning than simply pouring a fifth wine. It connects the subject back to the person leading the tasting and to the family vineyard story introduced at the beginning.

Bread and water are provided with the tasting. The five portions of cheese and the wine servings are substantial enough to taste properly, but this should not replace lunch or dinner. Think of it as a generous aperitif with a lesson attached.

Learning the Pairing Rules You Can Use at Dinner

Food pairing is one of the strongest reasons to book this experience. You are not only told which cheese goes with which glass. Simon shows you how to notice the relationship for yourself.

That matters in Paris, where choosing a bottle in a restaurant can feel like a gamble. You may know that you like red wine, but a particular dish could work better with a white. You may also find that a cheese changes the balance of a wine in a way you did not expect.

Simon explains the choices in a way that works for people with different levels of experience. Beginners get a starting point, while experienced wine drinkers can examine details they may have missed in casual tastings.

The lesson also applies beyond French food. The same ideas help when you are choosing wine for a meal at home. You learn to think about the weight of the food, the strength of the cheese, and how the wine’s taste changes after a bite.

That practical value is why the tasting feels more useful than five unrelated pours. You leave with a method, not just a memory of one enjoyable afternoon or evening.

Why the Small Group Makes a Difference

A maximum of eight participants is a real advantage here. Simon can invite you to describe what you smell, answer follow-up questions, and adapt his explanations to the group.

The intimate format also helps if you are traveling with someone who knows more about wine than you do. You can ask basic questions without holding up a large tour. Several people who began with little wine experience found the presentation accessible because Simon was patient and willing to explain ideas more than once.

His personality is part of the appeal. The tone is friendly, funny, and relaxed, but the information does not get lost. That balance is hard to achieve. A guide can either overwhelm beginners with technical language or make the session so casual that you learn nothing. Simon aims for the middle.

You should still expect some discussion and participation. If you want to sit quietly and receive a flight of wine without instruction, a regular wine bar visit may suit you better. This activity is designed for people who want to learn while they taste.

What $70 Buys You

At $70 per person, this is not the cheapest way to drink wine in Paris. You are paying for five glasses, five cheeses, a two-hour guided lesson, and Simon’s expertise as a wine-bar owner with a family vineyard background.

The value depends on what you want. If you only want a small snack and a few sips, the price may feel high. One person found the cost a little steep for what was served, and that is a fair point to consider.

I think the price makes more sense if you will use the information afterward. Learning to read a French wine menu, choose a bottle with more confidence, and understand why a pairing works can improve several meals during your trip. The small group also gives you much more personal attention than a large commercial tasting.

The included Champagne, especially the bottle connected to Simon’s family, adds character. So does the perfume work, which is not just another glass poured into the lineup. You are buying an experience with instruction and interaction, not only alcohol and cheese.

Remember that food and drinks not mentioned are not included. The tasting provides five wines and five cheeses, but you should not assume a full meal or extra bottles are part of the $70 price.

Who Will Enjoy This Most

I would recommend this for first-time wine tasters, curious food lovers, couples, and anyone who wants more confidence ordering French wine. It also works well for a mixed group where one person knows a great deal and another usually avoids wine. Simon can meet people at different levels.

It is a good choice for a rainy Paris afternoon or an evening when you want something more focused than sightseeing. The two-hour length fits neatly into a day without taking over your schedule.

Experienced wine drinkers can enjoy it too, particularly if they want a refresher on French regions or a social tasting with food. One long-time wine taster still found the explanation of varieties, flavors, and food effects useful.

I would skip it if you dislike guided activities, have no interest in wine, or want a full meal. Five glasses can also catch up with you, especially if you arrive tired or have other drinking plans afterward. Pace yourself, use the water, and avoid scheduling a demanding activity immediately after.

Practical Details Before You Book

The activity lasts two hours and begins at L’Oeno’Vice. Check the available start times when you reserve, since the exact schedule is not fixed here.

The tour is offered in English and French. It is limited to eight participants and is listed as wheelchair accessible. Children under 18 cannot join, and the activity is not suitable for pregnant women.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying at the time of booking, which is useful when your Paris plans are still shifting.

The experience has a 5.0 rating from 201 reviews, and the most consistent strengths are clear: Simon’s teaching, the friendly humor, the quality of the pairings, and the amount of useful information packed into two hours.

Should You Book the L’Oeno’Vice Tasting?

Book it if you want to understand French wine rather than simply sample it. Simon’s approach is personal and practical, the perfume exercise gives the tasting a memorable angle, and the five cheese pairings help you see how wine behaves at the table.

The best reason to choose this session is the combination of small-group attention and useful instruction. You can arrive with no wine vocabulary and leave with a way to taste, compare, and order more confidently.

Skip it only if $70 feels too high for a guided tasting, you want a full meal, or alcohol is not part of your plans. For most food-minded visitors, this is a well-shaped Paris experience that gives you something to use long after the last glass.

FAQ

Where does the French wine and cheese tasting take place?

The meeting point is L’Oeno’Vice, Simon’s wine bar in Paris.

How long does the tasting last?

The experience lasts two hours.

How many wines are included?

You taste five glasses: two white wines, two red wines, and one Champagne.

How much cheese is included?

The tasting includes five kinds of cheese, with one cheese paired with each wine.

Who leads the tasting?

Simon, the owner of the wine bar, leads the session. He speaks English and French and has a family connection to winemaking.

Is Champagne included?

Yes. Champagne is served as the final glass, and the activity includes the opportunity to taste Champagne from Simon’s family.

Is the activity suitable for children or pregnant women?

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

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.