Cheese & Wine Tasting in Montmartre with Local Cheesemonger

Montmartre has more to offer than white-domed views and steep streets. In a small, stone-walled space at 98 Rue Marcadet, Max leads you through eight French cheeses and five wines, including a sparkling pour. The tasting is less a formal lecture than a friendly lesson with plenty of stories, questions, and surprises.

I like two things here. First, the pairings are chosen to show how wine can change the taste of cheese, not just wash it down. Second, Max explains French regions, farming, and cheesemaking in plain English, using maps and memorable stories. The main drawback is simple: there is a lot of cheese and wine. If you are sensitive to alcohol, do not schedule this as your first activity after a long day without eating.

Key points at a glance

• Eight French cheeses: Expect a broad tasting rather than one familiar cheese served in several forms.
• Five French wines: The selection includes a sparkling wine and is designed to show different pairing styles.
• Max’s teaching style: He mixes clear explanations with humor, questions, stories, and useful Paris recommendations.
• Stone-walled Montmartre setting: The intimate room feels relaxed and personal rather than like a large commercial class.
• Generous portions: You receive enough food and wine to make the $70 price reasonable, though some people may find the serving size substantial.
• Easy planning: The experience lasts two hours, is offered in English, and allows cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

A cheese lesson with a Montmartre address

The meeting point is easy to identify: 98 Rue Marcadet, Paris 75018, at the front store with its green wooden exterior. This is in the Montmartre area, making the tasting a natural fit with a day spent exploring the neighborhood.

The address is not at the Sacré-Coeur viewpoint itself, so give yourself time to reach Rue Marcadet. Montmartre is hilly, and its streets can slow you down when you are trying to arrive at a set time. I would pair this activity with a walk through the area before or after, but I would avoid planning a packed museum schedule around it.

Inside, the stone walls create a warm, intimate setting. That matters because cheese and wine are social foods. You want enough room to talk, ask questions, and compare reactions without feeling lost in a crowd. The experience is designed for a small group, although the exact group size is not specified.

The setting also helps the tasting feel separate from the usual sightseeing rush. You are not standing at a market counter trying to identify six cheeses while other shoppers wait behind you. You sit down, slow the pace, and pay attention to what is in front of you.

Eight cheeses, each with a different job

The tasting includes eight French cheeses selected by Max. The exact names and sequence can change, so you should not book this expecting a fixed menu of particular varieties. What is clear is that the selection is intended to show range, with each cheese bringing its own flavor and texture.

That variety is the heart of the activity. A cheese tasting can become dull if every sample tastes similar. Here, the point is to notice contrasts and understand why a particular wine works with one cheese but not another.

Max explains where the cheeses come from and how they are made. You might hear about regional traditions, production methods, and the factors that shape flavor. The explanations are meant for beginners, so you do not need to know the difference between French appellations or have a trained palate before arriving.

I particularly like the use of a map. Seeing the regions laid out across France helps connect the food to place. Instead of treating cheese as one national category, you begin to see it as a product of different local climates, farms, traditions, and methods.

The portions are described as generous. That is good news if you want this to function as a light meal, but it also means you should not arrive expecting tiny, decorative bites. One person specifically wished for crackers or biscuits, and that is a useful practical note. The stated inclusions are cheese, wine, and fresh water, not a bread basket or a full meal.

Five wines and the pairing lesson

Five French wines accompany the cheese, with one sparkling wine included. The pairings are selected to bring out different qualities in both the wine and the food. This is more useful than simply tasting five unrelated glasses, because you can compare what happens when the same cheese meets different styles.

Max explains the logic behind each combination. You may learn that the best match is not always the pairing you would choose at a restaurant. One tasting lesson even left a participant rethinking the habit of eating cheese with red wine. The point is not to impose one rule, but to show that acidity, sweetness, body, and bubbles can matter more than a simple red-with-cheese formula.

The sparkling wine adds welcome variety. It breaks up the still wines and gives you a chance to notice how bubbles and freshness affect creamy or salty foods. The selection also includes a natural wine, according to one detailed account of the tasting. Natural wine can be unpredictable, and that uncertainty becomes part of the lesson rather than a flaw to hide.

Pours are described as generous. That improves the value at $70, but it also deserves attention. You may leave feeling pleasantly full and a little tipsy, especially if you are not used to drinking several wines in two hours. Fresh water is provided, and you should use it throughout the tasting.

This is a tasting, not a wine certification class. You will not leave with a formal qualification. You will leave with a better way to approach a French cheese counter or restaurant menu, which is much more useful on an ordinary Paris trip.

Max makes the information easy to remember

The host is Max, and his role is central to the experience. He has hosted more than 3,000 people over the past two years and leads the activity in English. The strongest pattern in the feedback is not simply that he knows his subject. It is that he makes the information easy to follow.

Max uses humor, stories, and a warm manner to keep the pace lively. He answers questions rather than rushing through a script, and he works to include the entire group. That matters in a food class, where some people arrive eager to talk about wine while others may feel unsure about tasting terms.

You do not need to pretend that you smell dried fruit in every glass. A good host should help you form your own impressions, and Max’s approach appears to be informal enough for beginners. He also makes room for people who are less enthusiastic about cheese or wine, so this is not limited to serious food specialists.

His local suggestions are another useful extra. People have received tips for dining and bars in Paris, and the advice is given in the context of a conversation rather than as a formal sightseeing program. I would ask Max for recommendations during the tasting, especially if you schedule it early in your stay.

Two hours that pass quickly

The full session lasts two hours. That is long enough to taste eight cheeses and five wines without turning the activity into a rushed checklist. It also gives Max time to explain the background of each selection and answer questions.

A typical rhythm is likely to move from one cheese and wine pairing to the next, with explanations between pours. The supplied information does not provide a fixed order, so I would not expect a published step-by-step menu. What you can count on is a guided progression through the selection.

The time passes quickly because there are several things happening at once: tasting, comparison, storytelling, and conversation. The small-group format helps here. You are not left alone with a printed card, and you are not one face in a large room.

Still, this is an active tasting. You will be sitting, eating, drinking, and listening for much of the two hours. If you prefer walking tours or hands-on activities, this may feel static. If you want a break from Paris sightseeing, the slower pace is a strength.

Is $70 a fair price?

At $70 per person, this is not a budget snack stop. The value depends on what you want from the afternoon.

If you only want to sample cheese, you can spend less at a market or shop. But that would not include five paired wines, two hours of explanation, a host who answers questions, or the chance to understand why the combinations work. You are paying for food and drink, but also for instruction and a social setting.

The portions help the price. The cheese servings are described as generous, and the wine pours are not stingy. Several people considered the amount of food and drink good value, with enough cheese to serve as a substantial afternoon meal.

The experience also has value for your remaining time in Paris. Afterward, you should have a better sense of what to order, how to approach a cheesemonger, and which wines appeal to you. Max’s restaurant and bar tips may also help you spend money more wisely later in the trip.

I would not book it for the alcohol alone. Nor would I choose it if you dislike trying unfamiliar cheeses. The value is best for someone who wants food, culture, and friendly instruction in one compact activity.

Who will enjoy this tasting most?

This is a strong choice for couples, families with adult children, groups of friends, and solo visitors who like meeting people around a table. It also works well for anyone who feels intimidated by French food customs. Max keeps the explanations clear and does not assume prior knowledge.

It suits curious beginners better than advanced wine students. You can ask basic questions without feeling out of place, while people who already know the basics may still enjoy the regional details and unusual pairings.

The experience is also a good option for a rainy Paris afternoon. It gives you a warm indoor activity without taking up half a day. Schedule it near a Montmartre walk and you can make the most of your time in the 18th arrondissement.

You should think twice if you avoid dairy, do not drink alcohol, or need a very quiet setting. The available information does not describe alternative food or nonalcoholic pairing options. It also does not specify whether every session has the same group size, so contact the provider if those details are important to you.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Since Paris streets around Montmartre can be uneven and steep, you may still want to confirm the exact route and entrance details before booking.

Smart ways to plan your afternoon

I would schedule this near the beginning of your Paris stay. You can use Max’s suggestions for restaurants, bars, and other local activities during the rest of your visit.

Eat a light meal beforehand, but do not arrive full. Eight cheeses and five wines are substantial, and starting hungry may make the alcohol feel stronger. Fresh water is included, so drink it between tastings.

Leave room in your schedule afterward. You may want to continue walking around Montmartre, but you may also prefer a relaxed evening rather than a demanding museum visit. The tasting is easy to combine with sightseeing, yet it should not be treated as a quick stop between two tightly timed attractions.

If you enjoy one of the wines, ask about it. A participant was able to buy wine at a reasonable price, though the available details do not promise that every bottle tasted will be for sale. It is a practical chance to identify something you might want to seek out later.

Book with the cancellation terms in mind. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Starting times vary, so check availability when you choose your date.

Should you book it?

I would book this if you want a friendly, food-centered Paris experience with enough substance to teach you something. The combination of eight cheeses, five wines, an English-speaking host, and a relaxed stone-walled room gives you more than a quick sampling session.

The best reason to go is Max’s teaching style. He brings humor, regional context, and practical advice to a subject that can otherwise feel fussy. The main caution is the generous amount of dairy and alcohol, plus the fact that crackers or a full meal are not listed as included.

For $70, this makes sense as a two-hour cultural activity and a light meal, not as a cheap tasting. If that matches your plans, reserve it early in your stay and arrive ready to try combinations you might not choose on your own.

FAQ

Where does the cheese and wine tasting take place?

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

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

How many cheeses and wines are included?

You receive eight French cheeses and five French wines. The wine selection includes one sparkling wine.

What language is the tasting offered in?

The activity is conducted in English, and the listed instructor language is English.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.