About two weeks ago we had the opportunity to attend a wine tasting hosted by Thierry Givone of Wine Tasting In Paris. It was held at the Mellow Bar located on a boat on the Seine River.
We took the metro (Line 7) to Pont Marie, crossed the street (Quai de l’Hôtel de Ville), and walked along the sidewalk next to the embankment until we found the stairway leading down to the river. Arriving at the waterfront highway (Voie Pompidou) we crossed at the light, and then doubled back to the boat (Batostar/Mellow Bar). We crossed the gangplank and entered the boat, where we saw that everything was ready for the event.
Thierry gave a well-structured talk with the support of visuals on a large computer screen. I liked his presentation about the wine regions of France, including an explanation about climatic differences. During the presentation we tasted six different wines, beginning with a champagne. Thierry explained how taste is perceived through the nose and in the mouth. He also talked about the different aromas that develop in wine and how best to capture these fragrances during the tasting process.
In addition to champagne, we tasted two white wines from the Loire Valley and from Burgundy and three reds from Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Côtes du Rhône.
Thierry told us that he plans to hold one wine-tasting session a week at the Mellow Bar. His demeanor is earnest and it was evident to me that he has good command of the subject. Take a look at his Facebook page for more information about Wine Tasting In Paris.
I think that Americans who travel to Paris will enjoy Thierry’s introduction to French wines held on-board the spacious Batostar on the Seine. It is a great way to learn about wine and to experience this important aspect of French culture with other travelers from around the world.
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