Wine And Cheese Lunch

Paris: Wine and Cheese Lunch runs through Ô Chateau - Paris Wine Tasting. Rated 4.8 across 625 reviews. Runs 2 hours. From $95.

Overview

This two-hour lunch replaces the usual restaurant table with a tasting room at Ô Chateau, a wine tasting operator close to the Louvre in the 1st arrondissement. An English-speaking sommelier pours five French wines, one of them a Champagne, drawn from regions such as Bordeaux, the Loire and Beaujolais. Each wine arrives alongside one of five artisanal cheeses, with bread baskets and still water on the table.

The format is part lunch, part lesson. The sommelier explains why certain cheeses work with certain wines, how Champagne is made, and how to read a French wine label. Guests are encouraged to ask questions throughout, and reviewers repeatedly mention coming away with pairing logic they could actually use.

It suits travellers who want a midday meal with substance rather than a passive tasting. Portions are described by the operator as more than generous, and the setting is social, with reviewers noting a relaxed atmosphere that makes conversation easy. Anyone who falls for a particular bottle can buy it on site. A charcuterie platter can be added for an extra 15 euro.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Ô ChateauThe group gathers at Ô Chateau, 68 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. There is no hotel pickup; travellers make their own way to the venue.
2. Wine and cheese tastingThe full 2 hours are spent at Ô Chateau, tasting Champagne and wines from several French regions alongside artisanal cheeses, with commentary from an English-speaking sommelier. An optional charcuterie platter can be added for an extra fee.
3. End of lunchThe experience ends at the same location. Wines tasted during the session, and many others, are available to purchase afterwards.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points help this lunch go smoothly, drawn from the listing and from what repeated reviewers mention.

• Generous pours. This is a lunch, not a sniff-and-spit tasting. One reviewer noted the servings were full pours, and the operator describes the portions of wine and cheese as more than generous. It functions as a proper midday meal.
• Social setting. Several reviewers mention a relaxed, conversational atmosphere, and the review summary notes the experience makes it easy to meet fellow travellers. Those hoping for a quiet, private meal should know the tasting is shared and interactive.
• Note-taking. A list of the wines tasted is provided. Bringing a phone or notebook is handy for recording favourite bottles and any restaurant recommendations the sommelier offers.
• Questions welcome. The sommelier sets aside time for questions, and multiple reviewers praised the guides for being knowledgeable and clear. Asking about labels, regions and pairing rules is expected rather than intrusive.
• Optional charcuterie. A charcuterie platter can be added to the tasting for 15 euro. The core lunch of five cheeses, bread and five wines is already included, so the platter is a supplement rather than a necessity.
• Wear anything. The whole session takes place seated indoors in a tasting room, so weather and footwear do not matter. Whatever suits a walk through central Paris to the 1st arrondissement is fine.

Common issues. There is no hotel pickup, so travellers must reach 68 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau on their own, and tips are not included. The tasting is interactive rather than a quiet restaurant meal. Cancellation is only free up to 24 hours before the start.

Before You Book A Tour