Paris Wine Course/Evening Tasting: 5 Wines/1 Sommelier/Aperitif Boards

A black-glass test turns wine into a puzzle. This Paris wine evening at Canons Canons mixes barrel pours with a blind tasting moment, then pairs it all with an aperitif board. It’s a fun, hands-on way to learn what you’re actually tasting, not just memorizing labels, and it happens in a simple, welcoming spot by Canal Saint Martin in Paris 10.

What I really like is the focus on technique from the first pour: you start with wine drawn straight from the barrels, then move into tasting basics with a professional sommelier. I also love the way the aperitif board is built for pairing, including artisanal charcuterie and cheeses, plus a vegetarian option.

One thing to consider: this is an adults-only wine course (18+), and it’s not a full dinner. You’ll get an aperitif board and snacks, but if you’re hoping for a long sit-down meal, you may want to plan dinner before or after.

Key moments that make this Paris wine course worth your time

• Barrel tasting first: you pour and taste right away, straight from the 9 barrels
• Five wines in a guided arc: whites, bubbles, reds, an extra category, plus a blind black-glass test
• Aperitif board made for pairing: artisanal charcuterie, cheeses, country bread, and more, with a vegetarian option
• Sommelier-led, French and English: explanations that work even if you’re new to tasting
• Buy what you like: wines and related products are available at the boutique to take home
• Great central location: by Goncourt (Line 11) and very close to République

Finding Canons Canons near Goncourt and République (Paris 10)

You meet at Canons Canons, 49 Rue du Faubourg du Temple, in Paris 10. The area is convenient and lively without feeling touristy on purpose, and the metro situation is excellent: Goncourt station (Line 11) is right there, and République is about a short walk away with multiple lines.

This matters more than it sounds. Wine tastings often fall apart for people who spend 30 minutes figuring out where they are. Here, you can show up, get oriented fast, and spend your energy on the tasting. It also makes it easy to tack on a stroll afterward, since Canal Saint Martin is just a stone’s throw away.

The 8:00 p.m. start: tasting basics, then barrel pours from 9 barrels

The evening runs around 2.5 hours, with an 8:00 p.m. meeting. Right away, you start with your first pour straight from the 9 barrels. That’s a big deal because it takes the “mystery” out of what you’re tasting. Instead of only seeing wine as a bottle label, you experience it as something physical and living—freshly poured, with the kind of texture and smell you can notice immediately.

After that first barrel pour, the sommelier walks you through the basics of wine tasting. Expect practical guidance on how to look, smell, and taste, plus what to pay attention to as the evening progresses. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by wine vocabulary, this setup helps you relax. You learn the method before you’re asked to perform.

One nice touch in the way the night is described: you don’t just taste and move on. There are pauses built in, including a wine moment that asks you to stop, notice, and give your senses time to catch up. That’s how you get past the “it tastes good” stage.

The tasting lineup: 5 wines, a black-glass blind test, and a guided palate

The evening’s structure is the clever part. You’re not handed five unrelated sips and told to have fun. You taste through a progression that trains your palate: whites, bubbles, reds, an extra category for variety, and 1 blind test in a black glass.

Here’s what each step is doing for you.

Whites and the first calibration

Early tasting helps you reset your palate. Whites are often where you can most easily notice acidity, aromatics, and how clean the flavors feel. Starting here gives you a baseline for everything that comes after.

Bubbles to reset your senses

Then comes bubbles, which are a smart choice in a guided lesson. Sparkling wine tends to “wake up” your palate fast. It helps you avoid fatigue, and it makes the next red or “other” wine feel distinct instead of blurred together.

Reds, plus an extra curveball category

After bubbles, you get reds and then one more wine under the category labeled as others. That extra slot is useful because it nudges you out of habits. It forces you to keep noticing rather than autopiloting.

The black-glass blind test (the playful, brainy moment)

The best moment is the blind tasting in the black glass. With color hidden, your brain can’t rely on quick visual clues. So you slow down and use smell and taste instead. The description is literally about guessing the wine color without help from normal sight.

If you’ve never done a blind tasting, it’s surprisingly educational. You learn which parts of tasting are truly sensory and which parts are guesswork based on what the wine looks like in the glass. It’s a fun challenge, and it sharpens your awareness for the rest of the evening.

Aperitif boards built for pairing, not just eating

In between sips, you get aperitif boards with a focus on quality and pairing. The board includes charcuterie and artisanal cheeses, and there’s a vegetarian option. The food description also calls out details like nitrite-free ingredients, plus country-style staples like bread, breadsticks, and SuperBon chips.

This matters because a good pairing teaches you something. When food is salty or savory, it can highlight fruit, soften tannins, and make acidity feel fresher. When cheese brings fat and protein, it can change how you perceive aroma and texture.

The way the course is paced, you’re tasting and thinking about combinations, not just eating out of politeness. It’s also why this works well for first-timers: you don’t need wine expertise to make sense of the flavors. You can rely on your own reactions and the sommelier’s explanations to connect the dots.

Your sommelier: French/English guidance that keeps you comfortable

You’re with a professional sommelier who speaks French and English. In practice, this kind of bilingual teaching is great because you can ask questions without needing special vocabulary.

One name that shows up in the experience is Maxime. The emphasis in the descriptions is on clear, pedagogical explanations and a warm, welcoming tone. Even if your wine knowledge is zero, the course is set up so you can learn tasting steps in a way that feels doable.

You’ll also have chances to ask questions throughout, which helps you get past the generic “wine talk.” Instead, you learn how to approach tasting like a skill you can use again.

Buying wine after the course: take your favorites home

The evening isn’t fenced off inside the tasting room. You can buy the wines and products you taste at the boutique, and the info stresses that you can find them at the right temperature. That’s practical: if you plan to drink a bottle at home soon after your visit, temperature is one of the easiest factors you can control.

Then you can do the classic Paris move: step back outside and head toward Canal Saint Martin for a relaxed walk while the flavors are still fresh in your mind. If you’re the type who likes to remember a place through what you ate and drank, this add-on keeps the experience going.

Noon and evening options: shorter daytime tasting or the full evening arc

The experience comes in two time slots. The evening is described as about 2.5 hours, and the noon option is about 1.5 hours.

Both formats follow the same idea, just with fewer samples in the shorter version. The noon experience includes 4 wines from independent winegrowers (whites, bubbles, reds, and others), and the evening includes 5 independent winemakers’ wines plus the additional black-glass moment.

If you’re fitting this into a busy itinerary, the noon slot can be a smart choice. If you want the full teaching rhythm—barrel pour, multiple tasting steps, and that blind-test challenge—the evening is the one to pick.

Price and value: $46 for 5 wines, expert guidance, and real food pairing

At about $46 per person, this is priced like a focused wine course rather than a casual bar tasting. To decide if it’s good value for you, look at what’s included: five independent wines, a professional sommelier, and an aperitif board with both meat and cheese (plus vegetarian). You also get the barrel pour component and the black-glass blind tasting.

That combination is the value. You’re paying for guided learning and for a curated food-and-wine moment, not just for access to wine. In Paris, a tasting that includes real pairing food and a trained guide is usually more expensive than it should be. Here, the price feels aligned with what you actually get: a structured evening, not a vague sampling.

It also helps that you can buy what you like afterward. That turns the course into a shopping guide for future drinking, instead of a one-night-only activity.

Who should book this Paris wine course, and who should skip it

This is a great fit if you want a practical introduction to tasting and pairing. It also suits:

• Couples and friends who enjoy learning while chatting
• People who don’t want a stuffy wine lesson
• Anyone who likes Canal Saint Martin as a neighborhood and wants to anchor their evening there

It may be less ideal if:

• You’re under 18 (it’s not suitable for children under 18)
• You want a full dinner experience instead of an aperitif board
• You expect a high-energy nightclub vibe. This is a tasting and teaching night.

Also, since you’re tasting multiple wines, it’s smart to plan around that. Keep it as your planned evening activity, not something to sandwich between heavy plans that require quick decisions and long walks.

Before you go: how to get the most from the tasting

You’ll enjoy this more if you come in ready to pay attention for small differences. The course is designed to reward that. A few simple habits help:

• Take the barrel pour seriously; it sets the baseline for the evening
• In the black-glass test, slow down and rely on smell and taste instead of guessing
• Use the aperitif board to test how food changes perception—salt, fat, and acidity all matter
• Ask questions early, while you still feel curious instead of rushed

If you like, you can also treat the boutique as part of the experience. After the tasting, you’ll know what you actually like, so your purchases become easier.

Should you book the Paris wine course at Canons Canons?

If you want a wine experience that’s friendly, hands-on, and genuinely instructional, I’d book it. The strongest reasons are practical: barrel pours, a sommelier-led approach in French and English, and that black-glass blind test that turns tasting into a learnable skill. Add a thoughtful aperitif board with a vegetarian option, and the whole evening feels like more than just drinking.

Skip it only if you need a full meal or you’re looking for something other than wine and tasting guidance. For most people visiting Paris 10 and wanting an authentic, low-pressure night, this is an easy yes—especially if you like the idea of leaving with wines you can actually enjoy later, not just memories of a glass in your hand.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point?

You meet at Canons Canons, 49 Rue du Faubourg du Temple, Paris 10, near Goncourt and République.

What time does the evening start?

The meeting time listed for the evening is 8:00 p.m.

How long is the experience?

The duration is listed as 90 to 150 minutes. The evening option is about 2.5 hours, and the noon option is about 1.5 hours.

How much does it cost?

The price is $46 per person.

What wines are included in the evening?

The evening includes tasting of 5 independent winemakers’ wines: whites, bubbles, reds, others, plus 1 blind test in a black glass. It also includes 1 wine drawn directly from the barrel.

What happens during the blind test?

You taste a wine in a black glass, which limits color visibility so you can rely more on your senses to identify it.

Do you get food with the wine?

Yes. You get an aperitif board with charcuterie and artisanal cheeses, plus bread and other snack items. There is also a vegetarian option.

What languages are offered?

The live guide is available in French and English.

Can I buy the wines or products after the course?

Yes. All wines and products tasted are available at the boutique, so you can take them home.

Is it suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18.

Is cancellation allowed?

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