Cheese & Wine Tasting in Montmartre with Local Cheesemonger

Come hungry, leave happily educated. This two-hour tasting at 98 Rue Marcadet brings together eight French cheeses and five French wines, including a sparkling wine, in a small Parisian space with stone walls. I like the careful cheese and wine pairings, and I like the host, Max, whose humor and clear explanations turn a simple tasting into a lively lesson in French food culture.

The setting is intimate, and the pace sounds relaxed rather than rushed. The main consideration is the amount of food and alcohol: the portions are generous, and several people found there was a lot of cheese. If you are not fond of strong cheeses, or if you prefer only a small sip of wine, this may feel like a substantial afternoon rather than a light snack.

The essential details at a glance

• Eight French cheeses: You taste a broad selection, with each cheese presented as its own style and story.
• Five French wines: The tasting includes a sparkling wine and pairings chosen to bring out different flavors.
• Max leads the session: His humor, warmth, maps, stories, and easy explanations are a major part of the experience.
• Small-group format: The relaxed room allows time for questions and conversation rather than a rapid procession of samples.
• Montmartre address: Meet at 98 Rue Marcadet, where the front store has a green wooden exterior.
• Good planning flexibility: The activity lasts two hours, runs in English, is wheelchair accessible, and allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

Arriving at 98 Rue Marcadet

The tasting takes place at 98 Rue Marcadet in the 18th arrondissement, in Montmartre. Look for the green wooden front store. That detail matters because a small, local meeting place can be easy to miss when you are focused on the streets and shops around you.

I would place this activity into a Montmartre day, but I would not schedule it at the very end of an exhausting sightseeing marathon. The tasting is leisurely and social, so you will get more from it if you arrive ready to sit, listen, taste, and talk. It also makes sense early in your Paris stay because Max shares suggestions for restaurants, bars, and other places to visit.

The room has stone walls, giving the session a distinctly Parisian feel without turning it into a theatrical show. This is not a grand dining room or a formal wine school. It is a friendly space where the food takes center stage.

Max sets the tone

Max is the reason this experience feels more personal than a tray of samples. He explains the cheese and wine in English, with plenty of humor and stories. His style is warm and direct, so the information stays accessible even if you know very little about French food.

I especially like the way he connects food to place. He uses a map to show the regions where products come from, then explains how French cheese reflects local agriculture and traditions. That gives you something useful to remember beyond the names of the items in front of you.

The session also seems to work well for mixed groups. People who already love cheese can ask detailed questions, while beginners can follow the basic explanations without feeling out of place. One particularly useful detail is that Max encourages questions and takes time with them, rather than treating the tasting as a speech that must finish on schedule.

His personality is a real part of the value. The most repeated praise centers on his humor, welcoming manner, and ability to make a group of strangers relax. That matters in a small tasting room. A quiet or overly formal host could make two hours feel long. Max appears to do the opposite.

Eight cheeses, each with a different lesson

The tasting moves through eight French cheeses, selected to show variety. The exact menu can change, so you should not book expecting particular names. What you can count on is a series of different textures, strengths, and flavors, presented with an explanation of how each cheese is made and where it comes from.

Max talks about the cheesemaking process in plain language. You learn why cheeses taste different, how their production connects to the region, and what to notice as you eat. You do not need a trained palate. The point is not to identify obscure aromas like a professional judge, but to pay attention to how the cheese changes as you taste it.

This is also where the generous portions become important. Several people found the serving sizes ample, and one person joked that there was a lot of cheese. If you plan to eat a full meal immediately afterward, reconsider. The tasting is substantial enough to function as a hearty afternoon stop.

The food is served as a guided progression, with the wine helping you compare one pairing with the next. You may find that a cheese you do not love on its own changes when matched with the right drink. That contrast is one of the best reasons to choose a guided session instead of buying random items at a shop.

A practical note: one person suggested adding crackers or biscuits. The available details do not promise them, so do not assume they are included. The emphasis is on the cheese itself, with fresh water provided.

Five French wines, including sparkling

The wine selection includes five French wines, one of them sparkling. Each is chosen to match a cheese and show how the pairing affects the flavor. Max explains not only what is in the glass, but why that particular wine works with the food in front of you.

The wines appear to cover different styles, and one tasting included a natural wine. Natural wine can be unpredictable, so the chance to try it in a guided setting is useful. Max reportedly explains what you are tasting without making the discussion overly technical.

The session is not simply five glasses placed on the table. The value comes from comparison. You taste the cheese, try the wine, then notice what changes. A pairing can soften a sharp flavor, bring out sweetness, or make a familiar cheese seem entirely different.

Do keep the alcohol in mind. The portions are described as generous, and one person advised arriving ready to get tipsy. Fresh water is included, but you should still pace yourself. This is a tasting, not a race through five drinks.

One of the most useful lessons may be that the familiar rule about red wine and cheese is not always reliable. Max explains that different cheeses call for different wines, and you may leave with a few new ideas for ordering in France. I would take notes on your favorite pairing if you hope to find a similar bottle later.

Why the pairing lesson matters

A cheese shop can sell you excellent food, but it cannot always give you the context to use it well. Here, the pairing is the point. You learn how to notice texture, salt, acidity, sweetness, and strength, then see how the wine responds.

That makes the experience useful after your Paris trip. You may become more confident choosing cheese for a dinner party, ordering a bottle at home, or asking for a recommendation at a French market. The lesson is practical because it begins with tasting rather than theory.

The explanations also connect French food to culture and agriculture. Instead of treating cheese as one large category, Max presents it as a product shaped by different regions and methods. A map helps make those differences easier to understand.

I would not expect a full technical course in two hours. You will learn plenty, but the mood remains social and entertaining. If you want a strict professional certification-style tasting, this is probably too relaxed. If you want useful knowledge without a lecture, the balance sounds right.

Small-group energy and personal attention

The small-group format gives the tasting its best social quality. You share a table, compare reactions, and hear questions you might not think to ask yourself. A couple traveling alone can still feel included, while a family or group of friends gets a shared activity with plenty to discuss.

Group size can affect any tasting, and the exact number is not stated. Still, the format is designed to feel personal. One session had only two participants and Max, creating an especially tailored experience, while another group of eight left feeling like friends. That range suggests the host knows how to adjust to the room.

This is a good choice for people who enjoy conversation. It may be less appealing if you want to wander freely or avoid social activities. You are committing to two hours at a table, with the host guiding the pace.

The atmosphere also seems friendly toward people who are not cheese or wine experts. Even people who began with little interest in one of the two foods could still enjoy Max’s stories and humor. That makes this a safer choice for a mixed group than a highly technical tasting.

Is $70 good value?

At $70 per person, the cost is not cheap, but it is reasonable for a two-hour hosted tasting with eight cheeses and five wines. You are paying for the food and drink, of course, but also for the selection, explanations, setting, and personal attention.

The generous portions strengthen the value. You are not paying for one bite of cheese and a token sip of wine. The tasting can replace a light meal, though you should not treat it as a full restaurant dinner unless you are comfortable eating a large amount of cheese.

The host’s local recommendations add another practical benefit. Max shares ideas for restaurants and bars, which can help you make better choices during the rest of your stay. That advice is not guaranteed to save money, but it can make the activity more useful than a stand-alone tasting.

I would compare it with the cost of buying eight cheeses and five bottles of French wine yourself. You would spend more, waste more, and miss the instruction. The price makes the most sense for people who value an organized introduction and want to understand what they are tasting.

Who should book this tasting?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time Paris visitors who want a clear introduction to French food.
• Couples looking for a relaxed activity in Montmartre.
• Friends or families who enjoy trying different foods together.
• People who like stories and conversation as much as the samples.
• Cheese lovers who want to improve their pairing skills.
• Wine drinkers curious about French regions and natural wine.
• Mixed groups where some people are beginners.

You may want to skip it if you dislike cheese, avoid alcohol, or want a fast activity between major sights. The generous servings can also be too much if you have a small appetite.

The tasting is conducted in English, so it suits English-speaking visitors who want detailed explanations without a language barrier. It is wheelchair accessible, which makes it more workable for many itineraries, though you should still confirm any personal access needs when booking.

Planning your two hours

Leave enough time to arrive at 98 Rue Marcadet and identify the green wooden front store. The location is in Montmartre, making it easy to pair with a day in the neighborhood, but do not assume that sightseeing immediately before it will leave you fresh.

I would book this earlier in your Paris stay when possible. Max’s suggestions for places to eat and drink can help shape the rest of your visit, and the tasting may give you more confidence when ordering cheese and wine elsewhere.

The activity allows cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Paris schedule is still taking shape. Starting times vary, so check availability before planning the rest of the day.

Should you book Cheese and Wine Tasting in Montmartre?

Yes, if you want a friendly, food-focused activity with real instruction and generous portions. The best parts are the eight-cheese variety, the five wine pairings, the intimate stone-walled room, and Max’s ability to make the subject funny and approachable.

I would book it near the beginning of your Paris stay, especially if you enjoy eating, asking questions, and collecting local recommendations. Skip it only if strong cheese or several wine servings are not a good fit for you. For most food lovers, $70 buys more than a snack: it buys a useful introduction to one of France’s great everyday pleasures.

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.

How many cheeses are included?

You taste eight French cheeses.

How many wines are included?

Five French wines are included, including one sparkling wine.

Is water provided?

Yes, fresh water is included.

What language is the tasting conducted in?

The instructor leads the experience in English.

Is the tasting wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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

Can I reserve now and pay later?

Yes. The activity allows you to reserve your place and pay later.