Le Grand Tasting and Enjoying Paris

Yesterday was the Grand Tasting, a wine tasting event at the Carrousel du Louvre. Being the wine connoisseurs, or perhaps just appreciators, that we are, we of course got tickets to check out the big event with our friends Alex and Marie and Julia and Thomas.

We've been to many wine shows in the past, but this one was different in a couple of important ways. First of all, we actually had to pay to get in. Usually producers just send out free invitations, but this was a slightly 'higher class' event, so there was an entry fee, and it was fairly high (20€). Luckily we found reasonably priced passes online. Secondly, you had to pay a deposit for your glass. Which meant that you got a real wine glass (yay!) but that we couldn't take the glasses home (boo!). Thirdly, this wine show was all about tasting, with very few of the booths actually selling bottles on the premises. It was nice to taste and not feel pressured to buy anything afterwards, and not being able to buy right away forces you to take notes on the wines you really like so that you can remember why you like them, and where you can actually find them.

We really enjoyed our afternoon, and discovered some interesting wines that we will definitely be seeking out, including a great Spanish wine, along with a recommendation for a tapas restaurant, that conveniently serves this wine. We were feeling quite festive, and took the 'scenic' route back to Alex and Marie's afterwards.

And so, without further ado, here are the obligatory pictures:

Group shot, near the end of the afternoon


Alex and Marie get serious about wine


Does this picture require a caption?


Marie and I after she sweet talked Piper Heidsick into serving us the 150€ bottle that they were hiding under the counter. We were actually trying to capture the wine glass chandelier in the background.


For some reason we decided to do a photo shoot in the Carrousel du Louvre after leaving the show. I'll spare you the rest of the many, many more cheesy shots we took there.


Who likes ferris wheels? We do!


Waiting to board, trying to convince the guy to let us into the VIP car.


Inside our little 'gondola'


Alex bought marrons chaudes afterwards, and we all happily caught the metro back to Alex and Marie's to watch the France-Australia rugby match before dancing to 80s tunes and then heading home.

We love Paris.