Cheese and wine, Montmartre style, in 2 hours. This tasting swaps tourist noise for a calm, stone-walled room where 8 French cheeses meet 5 French wines in careful pairings, guided in English. It’s the kind of Paris food stop that teaches you how to taste, not just what to eat.

I love the focus on French cheesemaking secrets in plain language, plus the way the host keeps pairings logical and fun. And I really like that it’s built for a relaxed pace: small-group energy, plenty of time for questions, and a format that doesn’t rush you.

One possible drawback: you’ll eat a lot of cheese over the two hours. If you dislike cheese (or you’re worried about alcohol with wine), plan your day with an empty stomach and a light dinner afterward.

Key takeaways before you go

• 8 French cheeses served with clear explanations of style, origin, and what to notice while tasting
• 5 wine pairings (including one sparkling) chosen to match what the cheese is doing on your palate
• A friendly English guide named Max who turns facts into an easy, funny conversation
• Stone-walled Paris setting that feels intimate and away from the usual crowds
• Generous portions and generous pours, so this isn’t a skim-through “tasting”
• Practical take-home tips for pairing choices, plus dining-bar suggestions after the session

Where to meet in Montmartre: 98 Rue Marcadet’s green wood storefront

Meet at 98 Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris. The front store is green and made of wood, which makes it easier to spot than the usual plain storefronts in the area. If you’re building your day around Montmartre, this meeting point also helps you stitch the experience into a walkable neighborhood plan.

The tasting happens in an intimate indoor space with stone walls, which changes the feel immediately. It’s quieter than you expect for a Paris food activity, and the room design supports the main goal: slow tasting, real conversation, and enough time to ask follow-ups without shouting.

What the 2-hour tasting really feels like: 8 cheeses and 5 wines

This is a 2-hour guided tasting with 8 French cheeses and 5 French wines, plus fresh water. One of the wines is sparkling, and you’ll use that to reset your palate between cheese styles. The format matters because cheese flavors can get intense fast—sparkling and water both help you stay aware of texture and aftertaste.

Here’s what you can expect in the rhythm. You’ll move through a sequence of cheeses, each one paired with a wine designed to highlight it rather than overpower it. The host explains the “why” behind each pairing as you go, so you’re not just reading a list. You’re learning how the tasting works: how saltiness, milk fat, and aging can change what wine tastes like next.

One reason this works well for first-time cheese fans is that the teaching stays direct. You’ll be shown what to notice—creamy vs. firm, mild vs. strong, how rind affects flavor—and the wine helps you confirm the difference. Several guests talk about time flying by, which usually means the host keeps the pace lively without turning it into a rushed lecture.

The cheese education: secrets of French cheesemaking, explained in plain terms

This isn’t a vague “cheese is great” experience. The guide focuses on the art of French cheesemaking and makes it easy to understand. You’ll learn the concepts behind successful cheese and wine pairings, in a way that doesn’t assume you already know French agriculture or wine jargon.

A standout teaching style is how Max keeps it interactive. Guests mention he asks for attention up front and answers lots of questions as the tasting moves along. One reviewer even noted a map-style explanation of the regions. Even if you don’t catch every geography detail, you’ll still come away with a clearer sense of how milk, craft, and aging influence what you taste.

If you enjoy learning through food, this part is where the value shows. You’re not memorizing trivia. You’re building a tasting mental model you can use later when you’re buying cheese at a shop or ordering a cheese plate at a bistro.

The pairing method that helps you taste smarter (not just taste more)

Wine and cheese pairing can sound complicated, but this tasting keeps it practical. The wines are carefully selected to match the cheeses in front of you—so the tasting becomes a live experiment. You’ll notice how a cheese’s texture can make a wine taste fruitier, how strong notes can quiet down with the right bottle, and how sparkling helps reset your senses.

One small but useful takeaway from the experience: pairing rules aren’t universal. One guest left with a strong personal note about avoiding cheese with red wine. That doesn’t mean red wine is “wrong” forever, but it’s a reminder that flavor chemistry depends on the specific cheese. The best way to learn is exactly what this tasting gives you: tasting the combinations and seeing what happens in your own mouth.

Also, keep an eye out for wine style variety. Some guests mention a natural wine selection. Natural wines can be expressive—sometimes unpredictable—so the host’s job is to help you understand what you’re tasting rather than treating wine like a fixed label. That kind of guidance is especially helpful if you’re nervous about ordering wine you can’t pronounce.

Quick ways to enjoy each cheese more

• Start by noticing texture first (creamy, firm, crumbly), then the flavor
• Take a small sip of wine after a bite, not before, so you can tell what the wine changes
• Reset with a little water between the stronger cheeses

Price and value: what $70 gets you and why it can feel fair

At $70 per person for 2 hours, you’re paying for more than a snack. You get 8 cheeses, 5 wine pours (including sparkling), and fresh water, guided by a local expert in a small-group setup. That ingredient list alone is the core value: this is a serious tasting amount, not a token sample.

Where the price becomes easier to justify is the human side. The host’s role isn’t just pouring. He explains cheesemaking and pairing logic, and he stays engaging and funny while answering questions. Many reviews stress that the host makes people feel included—so even if someone in your group is unsure about cheese or wine, the atmosphere keeps it enjoyable.

Portion comments are another reason the price makes sense. Guests describe the cheese portions and pours as generous, and that affects perceived value quickly. If you’ve ever paid for a “wine tasting” that felt like three tiny sips, you’ll probably appreciate the amount here.

Who this suits best in your Paris plan (and who might skip it)

This is a great match if you want an authentic-feeling Paris food moment without hunting down multiple shops. The small-group format helps you actually talk with the host instead of sitting through a big crowd session.

It’s also a strong choice for couples and friends who like learning together. Several people describe the experience as a highlight of their trip, and not because it’s fancy—it’s because it’s personal. If you’re traveling with mixed preferences, it helps that the guide keeps the mood friendly and doesn’t shame anyone who wants to ask basic questions.

Consider skipping or adapting if either of these fits you:

• You’re not into cheese at all, or you’re lactose-averse (the experience is built around multiple cheese samples)
• You want to keep your wine intake very low (the tasting includes 5 wines, so you’ll have a decision to make)

What to do next: ask for dining and keep the story going

One under-rated benefit of a good guide is what happens after the last cheese. Guests mention that Max shares recommendations for places to go for dining and bars in Paris. That’s practical knowledge you can’t easily get from a map app.

If you’re scheduling this during your stay, I’d put it earlier rather than later. One common suggestion from people who did the tasting is to do it near the beginning so you can carry what you learn into later meals—ordering cheese and wine with more confidence.

And because it’s in a walkable Montmartre area, you can usually turn the tasting into a smooth next step: walk it off, keep your palate alert, and use your new pairing instincts when you spot a fromage-and-wine moment.

Should you book the Cheese & Wine Tasting in Montmartre?

Book it if you want a fun, structured way to understand French cheese and wine pairing in a calm setting. The combo of 8 cheeses, 5 wine pairings (including sparkling), and a host who explains the “why” makes it good value for a two-hour food experience. It’s also ideal if you like asking questions and getting answers in English without feeling awkward.

Don’t book it if you hate cheese, you need a strictly non-alcoholic plan, or you want something short and light. This is designed for a proper tasting, not a quick bite-and-go.

FAQ

How long is the cheese and wine tasting?

The experience lasts 2 hours.

What’s included in the $70 per person price?

You’ll get a guided tasting, 8 French cheeses, 5 French wines (including one sparkling), and fresh water.

Where do I meet for the tasting?

Meet at 98 Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris. The front store is green and made of wood.

Is the instructor available in English?

Yes, the instructor teaches in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the experience is listed as wheelchair accessible.

If you want, tell me your travel dates and who you’re going with (cheese fans, wine fans, both, or neither), and I’ll help you decide the best day and time to schedule it.