Eight cheeses, one relaxed Paris afternoon. In Montmartre, I love how this experience turns a classic French combo into an easy, personal tasting in a small stone-walled space. You sit close, listen closely, and actually taste the difference pairing makes.

What I like most is the 8-cheese lineup (each with its own style and story) and the 5-wine pairing that includes a sparkling wine. The only real drawback to consider is that this is a full cheese-and-wine focus, so if you do not drink wine or you feel strongly about cheese, you may want to think twice.

Key takeaways before you go

• Small-group vibe in an intimate stone-walled room, so the pacing stays calm and questions feel natural
• 8 French cheeses and 5 paired wines, including one sparkling, so you get a real comparison across styles
• Pairing lessons that make you taste smarter, not just taste more
• Max brings humor plus clear explanations, which keeps the two hours moving fast
• Big portions for the price, with generous pours and plenty of cheese to try properly

Montmartre Meets a Stone-Walled Cheese Room

Montmartre can be loud and crowded outside. Inside, this tasting keeps things quieter. You are heading to a local spot at 98 Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris, in a green wooden front store that is easy to spot once you know what to look for.

The setting matters more than you might think. The stone walls help create a steady, intimate rhythm to the tasting. You are not bouncing between stops or shouting over street noise. Instead, the host can explain what you are tasting and why it works, and you can slow down long enough to notice the subtle shifts.

Another practical plus: this is an English-led experience with an expert guide who teaches in plain language. If you have never tasted French cheese beyond a supermarket block, you are still in the right place.

The Two Hours: What You Taste and How It Feels

This is a 2-hour guided tasting, designed to stay relaxed rather than rushed. You get 8 French cheeses and 5 French wines, with fresh water included throughout. That combination is the core of the experience, and it is the reason the price feels reasonable once you break down what is actually included.

Here is what the experience is really like, in human terms:

• You start with a welcome and a quick setup so you know how to taste and what to look for.
• Then you move through cheese after cheese, with the matching wine brought in as the pairing lesson evolves.
• Along the way, the host explains the logic behind the flavors, so you are not just eating, you are learning the pattern.

The pacing is one of the best parts. People talk about the “two hours flew by” effect, and it makes sense. When you are focused on one curated set of tastings, time moves faster in a good way.

One more detail to note: the portions come through as generous. You are not doing tiny, polite samples meant to test your palette for 60 seconds. You have enough to taste, compare, and reset your palate between cheeses and wines.

How the Pairing Lessons Change Your Taste

French cheese is not one thing. It is dozens of styles, and each one behaves differently with wine. The most valuable part of this experience is that it turns pairing into something you can understand.

You get taught the “why” behind successful matches, in an accessible way. You learn how factors like texture, intensity, and aging can shift how wine tastes in your mouth. The goal is simple: by the end, you should be more confident choosing cheese and wine back in your Paris neighborhood.

There is also a very useful reality check that pops up in the room: not every wine-cheese combo is automatic. One participant even said they learned a specific pairing tip around red wine not working the way you might expect with certain cheeses. That is exactly the kind of practical takeaway you want, because it saves you from repeating beginner mistakes later.

Another pairing detail I would keep in mind if you like variety: the host has explained that he may include a natural wine selection, and natural wine can be more unpredictable. In plain terms, that can be part of the fun, but it helps to know you are not always tasting the same predictable flavor profile.

The Cheese-Making Secrets You Actually Remember

A tasting is more than samples. This one adds an education layer about the art of French cheesemaking and how that connects to taste.

You get the “secrets” of how French cheese is made, in a clear way that does not require a food degree. The idea is to connect process to flavor: why one cheese tastes more buttery, another more sharp, and another more earthy or tangy. When you understand what drives the flavor, you start tasting more than just salt and fat.

The host also provides context tied to where cheeses come from. People specifically mention that he uses tools like a map to explain regions and their size, which helps you understand French geography alongside flavor. Even if you are not memorizing the names, the mental picture sticks.

Meet Max: Humor, Questions, and a Live Tasting Classroom

The experience is led by Max from EATCHEESEWITHMAX, and the vibe is warm without being overly formal. What shows up again and again is that he keeps attention on the room from the start. He mixes entertaining storytelling with the teaching.

You can expect:

• Clear explanations in English
• A fast back-and-forth feel when questions come up
• Humor that makes the lessons easier to absorb

One of the most practical advantages of a host like this is confidence. When someone knows how to explain tasting, you stop feeling like you are “guessing” what you are supposed to taste. Instead, you learn what to look for in your own mouth and what to ask next.

He also tends to share helpful suggestions for the rest of your Paris plan. Multiple participants mention getting tips for where to eat and drink after the tasting, which makes this not just an isolated class, but a useful piece of your trip.

Price and Value: Why $70 Makes Sense Here

At $70 per person, this is not the cheapest food stop in Paris. But it also is not just a snack.

For your money, you get:

• 8 cheeses (so you are comparing multiple styles, not just sampling one)
• 5 wines, including a sparkling wine (so you taste the pairing effect across different wine types)
• Guided instruction on cheese and pairing
• Fresh water to keep things comfortable

If you were to buy similar quantities on your own, the big hidden cost is the “teaching.” Pairing is hard to do well without guidance. You can spend money on cheese, then still miss what pairing is trying to teach you. Here, the cost buys direction plus the structure that makes the tasting worthwhile.

The small-group format is part of the value too. When it is not a massive crowd, it is easier for the host to slow down for questions and keep the pacing human. That is where the “relaxed and personal” feeling comes from.

Where to Go: Finding 98 Rue Marcadet in Montmartre

The meeting point is straightforward, and the details help. Head to 98 Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris. The front store is green and made of wood, which makes it easier to confirm you are in the right place before you step in.

If you are walking around Montmartre earlier that day, do a quick location check on your phone the moment you arrive. This kind of tasting starts on time, and you want to feel calm, not rushed.

Because this is a single meeting-location activity, you are not juggling public transit connections or switching neighborhoods. That alone can make your day feel smoother, especially if you already have several sights lined up.

Who This Tasting Fits Best, and Who Might Skip It

This works best for people who want a memorable food activity that is:

• Hands-on, not just observational
• Small and conversational
• Focused on flavor and real pairing logic

You will likely love it if you:

• Enjoy wine, or at least want to learn how wine choices affect what you taste
• Like cheese enough to eat multiple kinds in a sitting
• Want a break from the usual Paris checklist and prefer something local and less showy

You might reconsider if:

• You avoid wine entirely, because wine is a core part of the pairing format
• You dislike cheese or only tolerate small amounts, because the tasting includes a lot of cheese
• You prefer very quiet, non-social activities, since the format is interactive and question-friendly

If you are on the fence, here is the simple rule: if you enjoy tasting different flavors with guidance, this is a good match. If you want a light snack, this is more than that.

Should You Book This Cheese and Wine Tasting in Montmartre?

Book it if you want your Paris food day to feel both fun and educational. The strongest reason to say yes is the combination of 8 cheese tastings with 5 wine pairings, taught in a way that helps you understand what you are tasting, not just what you are eating. The host, Max, appears to be the heart of it, with humor, clear explanations, and a calm pacing that keeps the room comfortable.

Skip it if you are hunting for a low-key, minimal-food experience, or if you do not drink wine and do not want the wine-and-cheese pairing focus.

If you are building a trip plan and want one activity that feels unmistakably French, this one is hard to beat. In two hours, you walk away with better tasting instincts and a much more confident way to choose cheese and wine later on your own.

FAQ

How long is the cheese and wine tasting?

The experience lasts 2 hours.

How many cheeses and wines are included?

You taste 8 French cheeses and 5 French wines (including one sparkling).

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at 98 Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris. The front store is described as green and made of wood.

Is the tasting guided in English?

Yes, the instructor is English.

Is fresh water included?

Yes, fresh water is included.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes, free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance is offered for a full refund.

Can I reserve now and pay later?

Yes, there is a reserve now & pay later option.

Is the group size small?

The experience is described as a small-group tasting, aimed at a relaxed, personal feel.

Do they ever serve natural wine?

One participant noted that the host included a natural wine selection and explained it can be unpredictable.