Paris left bank wine tasting and walk

Whether you are a wine novice or a wine lover, where better to become a connoisseur of French wines than Paris? You'll learn about French wines with three tastings, presented in English by a professional wine enthusiast. The aim of this wine tour is to immerse you in the authentic wine and bar culture of Paris. We have chosen to concentrate on the 5th and 6th arrondissements on the Left Bank because of its historic associations and interesting and picturesque ambience.

The Paris Left Bank Wine Tasting and Walking Tour is led by a wine enthusiast who speaks English and is passionate about wine and Paris. Your guide will introduce you to 4 or 5 bars and cafes which locals frequent, with wine tastings including interesting selections from smaller producers. You will also explore this historic district and its famous buildings and sites on the walk.

The tour begins at the bottom of the picturesque rue Mouffetard with its history, myths and mystique, and former home of Hemingway. After your first glass of wine we pass Saint Medard, a church founded in 1140, and see the bar filmed in the movie “Amélie” as we head up the hill towards the Pantheon. This massive temple was commissioned in 1744 by Louis XV and built by the architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot. It was originally a church, but under the revolution it became a burial place for the honored men of France and houses the bodies of Voltaire, Rousseau, Mirabeau, Marat, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola.

Next, we arrive at a small local wine bar which looks like an old Parisian bistro with tiled floor, wooden chairs, and old black-and-white photos on the wall. Afterwards, we make our way downhill to pass the Church of Sainte Geneviève built 1492-1626, noted for its stained-glass windows. You'll also pass the famous Sorbonne University and rue de la Huchette, home of one of the oldest Jazz Clubs in Paris.

As we approach the Seine we will see Notre Dame before arriving at our next tasting at a Specialist of Bordeaux wines, in a bar with authentic decor and a real sense of history.

We end the afternoon at a small traditional bistro where the service is friendly and the walls are covered with old advertising posters from the bookseller's stalls along the river.