Good wine should start with your nose. At L’Oeno’Vice, Simon turns a 2-hour tasting into a hands-on lesson with perfume samples that sharpen smell before each sip. I love how he teaches you to taste step by step, not just which wine to drink, and I love the pairing structure, where each pour gets matched with a different French cheese.

One possible drawback: you’ll drink five wine servings in a short time, so plan the rest of your evening accordingly.

Key things I think you’ll care about

• A tight 2-hour format with 2 whites, 2 reds, and 1 glass of champagne
• Perfume-to-wine smell training so you learn to describe what you notice
• Cheese pairings for every wine, designed to teach your palate
• Simon’s family champagne sometimes featured, adding a personal touch
• Small group size (max 8) for questions and back-and-forth

Meeting Simon at L’Oeno’Vice: A Paris Wine-Bar Classroom

This tasting starts in a real wine bar setting, not a classroom that smells like plastic chairs. You meet Simon at L’Oeno’Vice, and from the first minutes you get the feeling this is a place where the host actually cares about the craft.

Simon’s role matters. He’s not only guiding you through the glasses; he’s explaining what you’re tasting and why it behaves the way it does. In other words, you’re not memorizing names. You’re learning a method you can use later when you’re standing in a Paris shop aisle or looking at a restaurant wine list.

The group is small, capped at eight participants, which makes a difference. You can ask questions and get answers in plain language, not just generic tips. A number of people also highlighted how relaxed and fun the vibe stays, with humor mixed into the lessons.

One extra detail I like: bread and water are typically part of the setup, which helps you taste more clearly instead of going from wine to cheese with nothing to reset your palate.

The Tasting Flow: Look, Smell, Sip, Repeat

The session follows a simple tasting rhythm that you can copy later. First, you look at the wine’s color. It sounds basic, but it trains you to pay attention to what’s in the glass before you judge anything.

Next comes the smell. You’ll do it the way serious tasters do it: quick, focused sniffs before the first sip. Then you taste, and Simon guides you on what to notice in the flavor and texture.

You’ll run through 2 glasses of white, 2 glasses of red, and 1 glass of champagne. With each wine, you also taste a different cheese, so your palate is constantly making connections. That pairing aspect is key because wine often makes more sense once you’ve tasted it alongside something with real character.

Timing is tight but not rushed. You’re given explanations as you go, so you aren’t stuck hearing a long lecture before you taste. You learn while tasting, which is exactly how you’ll remember it.

A practical benefit: when the session ends, you should feel ready to choose a bottle (or at least choose more confidently) in a Paris restaurant rather than ordering based on the label alone.

Wine Regions and What Actually Changes the Flavor

Simon’s big theme is how the world of French wine connects to geography. He walks you through regions and how factors like climate, grape type, and growing location shape taste.

He also uses visuals and keeps it accessible. That matters if you’re not a wine person. Instead of talking in wine-snob code, he helps you connect the dots between what’s happening in the vineyard and what you notice in your glass.

Here’s what that means for you in real life: after this, you’re more likely to taste like a detective. You’ll pick up on why one wine feels lighter or sharper, why another seems rounder, and why one pairing makes flavors snap into place while another makes them clash.

And because the explanations get tied back to the group, the lesson doesn’t feel like it’s only for people who already speak wine fluently. You’re guided to participate.

Perfume Samples for Smarter Smelling

One of the most memorable parts is how Simon uses perfume samples alongside wine. You compare the aroma of what’s in your glass to different perfume scents, essentially training your nose to recognize and describe odors.

This is useful because smell is where wine often turns confusing. People think they don’t have the ability to describe wine, but most of the time it’s really that they’ve never practiced noticing. The perfume step creates that practice in a way that feels playful, not intimidating.

You’ll also get little smell challenges during the tasting, and you’re encouraged to interact. That keeps things lively, and it gives your brain something to do besides simply sip.

The payoff is simple: you’re leaving with a better sense of what aromas exist in wine, and you’ll probably start catching those same aroma notes when you’re tasting later on your own.

Cheese Pairings That Teach Your Palate

French cheese isn’t just a snack here. The cheese is part of the lesson plan.

You’ll taste five kinds of cheese, and the pairing changes each time you drink. The goal is to show how one affects the other: how wine can soften or highlight flavors in cheese, and how cheese can make wine taste different than it did in the glass by itself.

This also helps you understand pairing logic without needing a cheat sheet. For example, if you learn what happens when a cheese’s texture meets a wine’s acidity, you can start making sensible choices later. You’re not buying wine just to drink it. You’re choosing wine for a specific meal moment.

If you’ve ever had cheese and wine that felt like an accident, this lesson is your chance to fix that. After the tasting, you’ll have practical instincts about how to match styles, not just flavors.

Champagne Moment: Simon’s Family Pour

The finish is a glass of champagne, and in the described New Year special there’s extra emphasis on champagne and wine. That seasonal angle is part of the fun, especially if you’re visiting during late December or early January.

Simon also has a family connection to the wine world, including his family’s Champagne being available to taste in the experience. That personal element matters because it turns the drink into a story you can actually picture, not a random pour selected for variety.

Champagne also works well at the end because it changes the reset of your palate. If you do the tasting thoughtfully, you can notice the difference immediately: bubbles, feel, and aroma all behave differently than still wine.

Price and Value: What $70 Buys You in Paris

At $70 per person for two hours, you’re paying for a lot more than a couple of drinks. You’re getting:

• 5 wine servings (2 whites, 2 reds, 1 champagne)
• 5 cheese tastings
• A live wine-expert host (Simon) guiding the tasting, explanations, and pairing logic
• A small-group format capped at 8 people

In Paris, wine-by-the-glass pricing can add up fast, especially when you factor in food. Here, the structure forces you to taste a range, and the cheese is not an afterthought. You’re guided to understand what you’re tasting, which is where the value really shows up.

Is it pricey? If you’re on a strict budget, sure. But if you like wine, cheese, or just want a smart activity that improves how you taste during the rest of your trip, this is one of those “you’ll use this later” purchases.

Who This Fits Best (and Who Might Skip It)

This tasting is a great fit if you:

• want to learn how to taste wine without pretending you already know everything
• enjoy interactive experiences with humor and questions
• like pairing food with drinks and want practical guidance

It’s also a solid choice if you’re going with a partner or small group, since the limit of eight helps conversations stay personal.

It’s not suitable for children under 18 and not recommended for pregnant women, since the experience includes multiple wine servings in a short period.

Also, because you’ll have five tastings in two hours, if you prefer very low-alcohol evenings, you might want to scale your expectations or keep dinner plans simple afterward.

Should you book this Paris wine and cheese tasting?

If you’re the type of traveler who likes learning something you can actually use the next day, I’d book it. Simon’s approach is practical: he teaches you how to smell, how to taste, and how pairing changes the whole experience.

If you hate wine lessons and want only a casual bar hang, you might find the structure too focused. But if you’re open to a hands-on tasting that ends with champagne and a real sense of how to choose wine, this is a strong Paris activity.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the tasting?

You meet at L’Oeno’Vice.

How long is the Paris wine and cheese guided tasting?

It lasts 2 hours.

What wines are included in the tasting?

You’ll taste 2 glasses of white, 2 glasses of red, and 1 glass of champagne.

How many cheeses do I taste?

You’ll taste 5 kinds of cheese, with each wine paired to a different cheese.

Is the guide available in English?

Yes. The live guide speaks English and French.

Is this a small group experience?

Yes. It’s limited to a maximum of 8 participants.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible.

Is it okay for kids or teens?

No. It’s not suitable for children under 18.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. Free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is it appropriate during pregnancy?

No. It’s listed as not suitable for pregnant women.