Cheese & Wine Tasting in Montmartre with Local Cheesemonger

French cheese and wine become much more interesting when someone explains why they belong together. In a stone-walled space in Montmartre, Max leads you through eight French cheeses and five wines, including a sparkling wine, with stories about their regions, making methods, and flavors.

I like the generous amount of food and the small-group feel. I also like Max’s lively teaching style, which makes the details easy to follow rather than stuffy. The main caution is simple: this is a serious amount of cheese and wine for two hours, so arrive hungry and pace yourself.

Key points

• Eight cheeses from France: Expect a broad tasting rather than one repeated style, with each cheese chosen for its own flavor and character.
• Five wine pairings: The tasting includes five French wines, one of them sparkling, selected to bring out different sides of the cheese.
• Max leads the session: His approach mixes facts, stories, humor, and practical advice about French food and wine.
• A relaxed Montmartre setting: The tasting takes place behind a green wooden storefront at 98 Rue Marcadet, in an intimate room with stone walls.
• A full two hours: There is time to ask questions, compare pairings, and enjoy the food without being rushed.
• Good value for food lovers: At $70 per person, the quantity and personal instruction make this more than a quick sampling stop.

A thoughtful introduction to French cheese

This tasting works because it treats cheese as more than a snack. You learn how French cheese reflects place, milk, age, texture, and tradition. Max explains the background in plain English, then gives you time to taste and decide what you think.

That order matters. Instead of hearing a long lecture before anything reaches the table, you move through the cheeses and wines step by step. The facts have a purpose: they help you notice a salty finish, a creamy center, a firm rind, or the way a wine changes the taste of the cheese.

The selection is described as eight French cheeses, each with a distinct flavor. The exact cheeses can change, so you should not book this expecting a fixed list. That flexibility is useful because it allows the host to choose products that work well together at the time of your visit.

For anyone who thinks they dislike cheese, this may be a good way to test that opinion. A wide range of textures and flavors can reveal that the problem was one particular style, not French cheese as a whole. Still, this is not the best choice if you dislike cheese strongly or cannot eat dairy.

What happens during the two-hour tasting

The experience begins at 98 Rue Marcadet in the 18th arrondissement. Look for the green wooden front store. That detail matters in Montmartre, where a clear meeting point saves time and prevents you from wandering along the street looking for the right door.

Inside, the stone walls create a quiet, intimate setting. This is not a bus tour or a quick stand-up tasting. You sit with the group, listen, ask questions, and taste at a comfortable pace. The small-group format also makes it easier to speak with Max directly.

The tasting itself follows a natural progression. Max introduces the cheeses and wines, explains where they come from, and shows you how to taste them together. You may first try a cheese on its own, then take a sip of the wine, and finally compare the two. This simple process helps you understand what a pairing is meant to do.

Some pairings may soften a sharp flavor. Others may make a creamy cheese seem lighter or bring out a fruit note in the wine. You are not expected to use technical language. The point is to notice what changes in your mouth and to learn a few ideas you can use later in Paris restaurants or at home.

Fresh water is included. That is important during a tasting with several wines and many cheeses, especially if you are attending in the afternoon. The portions are described as generous, so you should think of this as a substantial light meal rather than a tiny pre-dinner sample.

Why Max makes the difference

The host is Max, and his personality is a major part of the experience. He combines cheese and wine instruction with humor, personal interaction, and stories. His style is warm and direct, which helps keep the two hours moving.

Several details make his teaching useful. He uses a map to show French regions and explain the size and location of different areas. He also gives practical explanations of how cheese is made and why wines pair well with particular styles. You get food culture, geography, and tasting advice in one sitting.

Max also takes questions seriously. If you want to know about a cheese’s origin, a wine’s style, or how to repeat a pairing at home, this is the moment to ask. His approach is designed for mixed groups, so you do not need previous wine knowledge.

His humor is part of the appeal, but the session is not only entertainment. The strongest part is the balance between useful detail and a relaxed mood. You can learn without feeling tested.

A small point to keep in mind: the personality-led format will suit most people, but visitors who want a silent, formal tasting may prefer a more traditional wine-school setting. This experience is social and conversational.

The wine selection and how to pace yourself

You taste five French wines, including one sparkling wine. The wines are selected to match the cheeses rather than presented as a separate wine lesson. That makes the pairings easier to understand because each glass has a job.

The selection can include different wine styles, and one past tasting included a natural wine. Natural wine can be unpredictable, so it may appeal to people who enjoy trying something less conventional. If you prefer familiar labels and highly polished styles, ask questions and keep an open mind.

Five wines over two hours can catch up with you, especially alongside generous pours and cheese. Drink the water provided, take your time, and do not treat the session as a race. One useful planning tip is to book this earlier in your Paris stay. Max may offer food and bar suggestions that can help shape the rest of your visit.

You should also plan your evening sensibly. The tasting may leave you pleasantly full, and the wine may affect how much energy you have for a late museum visit or a long walk. It fits best into a relaxed afternoon or early evening.

There is one inconsistency worth noting. The activity information specifies five wines, while one description of a tasting refers to four glasses. The safest expectation is five wine selections, with serving format subject to the session. Either way, you receive enough wine to understand the pairings, not just a symbolic sip.

Generous cheese portions and a small practical drawback

The quantity is one of the strongest reasons to consider the $70 price. You receive eight cheeses and five wines, plus instruction from a local host. That is a lot of tasting for two hours, particularly when the portions are described as generous.

The value becomes clearer when you compare this with a standard restaurant meal. You are paying not only for food and wine, but also for explanations, regional context, and the chance to compare several pairings in one place. For a couple or small group interested in French food, the cost is reasonable.

Still, the amount of cheese may be too much for some people. One participant specifically wished for crackers or biscuits, and that is a fair practical point. The available information lists cheese, wine, and fresh water, but does not promise bread, crackers, or other accompaniments. If you prefer cheese with something plain between samples, bring that expectation down or ask about it when booking.

Because there is a lot to eat, do not arrive after a large lunch. At the same time, a small meal beforehand may help you handle the wine. A light breakfast or early snack is a sensible plan if you schedule the tasting near midday.

Montmartre location and how to fit it into your day

The address puts you in Montmartre, an area known for steep streets, art, cafés, and excellent walking. The tasting itself does not include a guided neighborhood tour, so you should think of the location as a useful base for combining food with sightseeing.

You can arrange your day around the tasting and then spend time exploring the surrounding streets. Or you can visit Montmartre first and use the cheese and wine session as a comfortable break. Since the activity lasts two hours, it gives your day some structure without taking over the entire afternoon.

The stone-walled room offers a change from the open streets and crowded sights. That contrast is part of the appeal. After walking around Paris, you can sit down and focus on food, conversation, and stories.

The meeting point is specific, but the activity information does not give a detailed route from a metro station. Allow extra time to find 98 Rue Marcadet, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the 18th arrondissement. The front is green wood, which should make the final approach easier.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. If you have detailed mobility needs, confirm the practical arrangements before arrival, since the available information does not describe the entrance, seating, or restroom layout.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this for people who want a social Paris activity with real food and drink at its center. It suits couples, families with adult children, friends, and solo visitors who enjoy meeting a small group.

It is especially good for:

• People curious about French regional food
• Wine drinkers who want help understanding pairings
• Cheese lovers who want more variety than a restaurant plate provides
• Visitors who enjoy a funny, outgoing host
• Anyone looking for a two-hour indoor activity in Montmartre
• People who prefer conversation and questions over a scripted presentation

It may not suit children or anyone avoiding alcohol, since wine is central to the session. It is also a poor fit for people with dairy allergies or those who strongly dislike cheese. The activity is taught in English, so you should be comfortable following an English-language explanation.

You do not need to be an expert. In fact, beginners may get the most from it because Max explains the basic ideas clearly. More experienced wine drinkers can still enjoy the regional comparisons and the chance to taste pairings selected by someone who works with these products regularly.

Booking details and value at $70

The listed price is $70 per person, and the duration is two hours. For that fee, you receive eight French cheeses, five French wines including one sparkling wine, fresh water, and guided instruction from Max.

That is strong value if you would otherwise spend money on several cheese plates and wine by the glass during your stay. You also avoid the guesswork of ordering unfamiliar products one at a time. The tasting gives you a controlled comparison, which is useful when you want to understand why a pairing works.

The value is less clear if you rarely drink wine, eat very little, or want a full neighborhood tour included. In that case, the food and drink may be more than you need, and the session could feel long. For most food-focused visitors, though, the quantity and personal attention justify the price.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Paris schedule is still changing. Starting times vary, so check availability when choosing your date.

Should you book it?

Book this tasting if you want to understand French cheese and wine while spending two relaxed hours with an outgoing local host. Max’s humor, regional explanations, generous portions, and practical pairing advice give the session more substance than a basic tasting counter.

I would place it near the start of a Paris stay. You may leave with a better sense of what to order, plus useful suggestions for food and drinks elsewhere in the city. Just arrive ready for a lot of cheese, use the water, and do not expect crackers or a full Montmartre walking tour.

At $70, this is a strong pick for food lovers who value instruction as much as eating. If that sounds like you, the green storefront on Rue Marcadet is worth finding.

FAQ

Where does the cheese and wine tasting take place?

Meet 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 when booking.

How many cheeses and wines are included?

The activity includes eight French cheeses and five French wines, including one sparkling wine. Fresh water is also provided.

What language is the tasting conducted in?

The instructor is Max, and the tasting is conducted in English.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.