REVIEW · PARIS
Cheese & Wine Tasting in Montmartre with Local Cheesemonger
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by EATCHEESEWITHMAX · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Two hours, eight cheeses, and a real cheese nerd. In Montmartre, Max guides you through 8 French cheeses with 5 paired wines inside a stone-walled space that makes tasting feel unhurried. One heads-up: it’s a serious cheese-and-wine experience, so come ready to taste even if you’re picky.
I like that the format stays friendly and practical, not formal or stuffy. You’ll learn the how-and-why behind French cheese and wine pairing in a way you can reuse the next time you’re browsing a fromagerie.
In This Review
- Key Highlights to Look Forward To
- Montmartre’s 2-Hour Cheese and Wine Plan: Value at a Glance
- Finding 98 Rue Marcadet and Getting Oriented
- Inside the Stone-Walled Room: The Real Reason It Feels Relaxed
- Your 8-Cheese and 5-Wine Flight: What You’ll Learn While You Taste
- Cheesemaking Secrets and Pairing Rules You Can Use Immediately
- Max’s Teaching Style: Funny, Interactive, and Built for Q&A
- Who This Tasting Fits Best (and Who Might Want to Skip)
- Should You Book This Cheese and Wine Tasting in Montmartre?
- FAQ
- What will I taste during the cheese and wine tasting?
- How long is the experience?
- Where do I meet for the tasting?
- What language is the instructor in?
- Is it wheelchair accessible?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- Is there a reserve and pay later option?
Key Highlights to Look Forward To
- Stone-walled, intimate setting that keeps the pace calm
- 8 French cheeses with distinct styles and flavors
- 5 carefully paired wines, including one sparkling
- Cheesemaking secrets explained in clear English by Max
- Generous pours and a fun, inclusive vibe that keeps questions welcome
Montmartre’s 2-Hour Cheese and Wine Plan: Value at a Glance
For $70 per person, you’re getting a focused 2-hour tasting that feeds you properly: 8 French cheeses plus 5 French wines (including sparkling), along with fresh water to keep you comfortable. That’s the big value story. You’re not just sampling a bite here and a sip there. You’re guided through a full pairing sequence with explanations that help the tasting actually make sense.
This is also one of the nicer ways to spend time in Paris if you want something food-based that doesn’t require you to be fluent in menus. The instructor is English, and the whole flow is designed for real understanding, not just name-dropping.
The only real “consideration” is intensity. Between the cheese variety and the wine pours, it can feel like a proper afternoon, not a quick appetizer stop.
You can also read our reviews of more food & drink experiences in Paris
Finding 98 Rue Marcadet and Getting Oriented
This experience meets at 98 Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris. When you arrive, look for the front store with a green wooden exterior. That detail matters because the neighborhood streets in Montmartre can blur together fast, especially if you’re walking in from sightseeing.
Once you’re inside, you’re not dealing with the usual Paris chaos of crowded rooms. The setting is described as intimate, with stone walls that help keep the tasting quiet and comfortable. That contributes to the relaxed feel people love.
Tip: if you’re timing this alongside Montmartre wandering, aim to arrive a little early. Not because it’s strict, but because you’ll enjoy settling in before the first pour starts.
Inside the Stone-Walled Room: The Real Reason It Feels Relaxed
The standout here is the environment. You’re tasting in a beautiful, intimate Parisian space with stone walls, which naturally slows everything down. Instead of loud clinking and rushed stops, you get a calmer rhythm where you can actually notice differences from cheese to cheese.
That calm pace matters because pairing is about attention. The host walks you through what you’re tasting and why it works (or why it doesn’t). When the room is relaxed, you’re more likely to taste thoughtfully instead of just chasing flavor.
It’s also designed for small-group interaction, which shows up in how the experience feels: questions land easily, and the guide can respond without steamrolling the room. If you’re the type who likes asking why something tastes the way it does, this format supports that.
Your 8-Cheese and 5-Wine Flight: What You’ll Learn While You Taste
You’ll taste a selection of 8 French cheeses, and the whole point is that each one has its own personality. Expect a range of flavors and styles, presented with enough context that you can tell what you’re noticing: texture, intensity, and how the taste shifts.
Then come the 5 paired wines, picked to match what you’re eating. One of those wines is sparkling, which is a smart inclusion because bubbles can reset your palate between richer cheeses.
Two practical learning moments that matter:
- The pairing explanations help you understand the logic, not just the verdict.
- You also get real-world guidance on balancing wine and cheese intensity, which is where most people get it wrong.
From the experience, I’d treat it like a tasting lesson with dinner-level food. One review specifically pointed out the classic pairing myth-busting moment: don’t assume all cheese works with red wine the same way. The host frames it as a lesson you remember, and that’s the value.
Cheesemaking Secrets and Pairing Rules You Can Use Immediately
The host doesn’t stop at taste. You’ll be guided through the art of French cheesemaking—with the secrets behind how cheese develops flavor. Even if you’re new to cheese, the explanations are set up to be easy to follow, in clear and accessible English.
What you take away is practical. You start to recognize that cheese isn’t just one thing. It’s a chain of choices—type, aging, and style—that shape how it reacts to wine. The tour connects that to pairing, so you learn not only what to drink, but why it matches.
One pairing rule you’ll feel fast: stronger cheese calls for wines that can handle it, while lighter styles often do better with wines that won’t overwhelm them. You also get taught to pay attention to the sequence. Start thoughtfully, then let the tasting build.
And yes, the wine pours can be generous. If you’re planning to walk around afterward, keep the pace slow and drink water between tastings.
You can also read our reviews of more wine tours in Paris
Max’s Teaching Style: Funny, Interactive, and Built for Q&A
This is where Max really earns repeat praise. The vibe is warm, friendly, and funny, but it’s also structured. He explains what you’re tasting in a way that keeps people engaged, and he takes time to answer questions instead of rushing through.
The storytelling approach helps you connect cheese to place. One review mentioned he used a map to show where regions are and how they relate to what you’re tasting. That turns the cheeses into more than samples. It becomes a geography-and-food connection you can picture.
The atmosphere is also inclusive. People in mixed groups still enjoy it, even if they’re not big wine-and-cheese fans going in. The host’s tone is welcoming and slightly playful, and that matters when you want your class to feel like a shared afternoon, not a lecture.
If you’re the type who likes learning with laughs, this should click with you fast.
Who This Tasting Fits Best (and Who Might Want to Skip)
This tasting is best for:
- Food lovers who want a hands-on Paris activity
- Wine newcomers who want guidance without feeling intimidated
- People who like small-group experiences where they can ask questions
It’s also a good choice if you’re visiting Montmartre and want something more real than another quick photo stop. The setting and pace make it feel local and grounded.
Who might want to skip it? If you truly dislike cheese or you want an activity that’s mostly light bites, this may be too much. Between 8 cheeses and 5 wines, it’s a committed tasting journey. Think of it as a meal you eat with your senses, not a snack.
If you’re unsure, consider your tolerance for tasting variety. This experience rewards curiosity.
Should You Book This Cheese and Wine Tasting in Montmartre?
Book it if you want a high-impact food experience in 2 hours with clear teaching, real pairings, and a host who keeps the room friendly. The price makes sense because you’re not just paying for drinks. You’re paying for the guided pairing logic behind 8 cheeses and 5 wines plus water and a calm stone-walled setting.
Skip it if cheese and wine simply aren’t your thing. Also, plan your timing so you’re not trying to cram it right before something demanding. Wine pours plus heavy tasting means you’ll want an unhurried rest of the day.
If you’re trying to pick one “food class” in Paris that feels authentic and not awkward, this is the kind of booking that tends to become a real memory.
FAQ
What will I taste during the cheese and wine tasting?
You’ll taste 8 French cheeses and sip 5 French wines, including one sparkling. Fresh water is also included.
How long is the experience?
The tasting runs for 2 hours.
Where do I meet for the tasting?
Meet at 98 Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris. The front store is green and made of wood.
What language is the instructor in?
The instructor leads the tasting in English.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Is there a reserve and pay later option?
Yes. You can reserve now & pay later, meaning you pay nothing today.
