My Thoughts on LE PETIT BALLON, the Wine Discovery Box [2024]

Whether it's a genuine passion or just a casual enjoyment with friends, wine often provides the perfect opportunity to share a great moment. The box Le petit Ballon, which I'm presenting to you today, invites you to discover new flavours each month, featuring two unique wines.

My partner and I subscribed to this box for three months. Today, I'm sharing our feedback and thoughts on this tasting experience!

What is Le Petit Ballon?

💖 I Loved It

• Discovering new wines,
• The quality of the bottles received,
• The uniqueness of the selections,
• The tasting tips,
• The careful packaging,
• The fast delivery.

❌ What I Liked Less

• Customer service only reachable via form (no phone number available),
• No PayPal payments for subscriptions (credit card only).

How does the Le Petit Ballon subscription work?

Le Petit Ballon invites you to discover a monthly package containing 2 selected wines, accompanied by tasting tips. This box comes with a magazine all about the world of wine. Everything is shipped to your home in carefully arranged packaging.

For each wine you receive, you'll enjoy the expertise of a sommelier who will provide advice and information on:

• The wine profile (powerful, complex, fruity),
• How to taste it (temperature, decanting, peak maturity, cellar potential...),
• What foods to pair it with (meat, vegetables, fish, cheese...),
• Information about the wine (origin, appellation, type of cultivation, grape varieties, ...).

Who selects the wines?

Meticulous attention is given to the selection of wines included in the packages. Each wine is tasted and chosen by Jean-Michel Deluc, former head sommelier at the Ritz and a recognised Master Sommelier since 1991.

Jean Michel Deluc, Master Sommelier, creator of the selections at Petit Ballon

Which wines are we talking about?

Inside the packages, you'll find a variety of wine categories, including some classic favourites like Bordeaux, Champagne, as well as rosé and organic wines.

🌍 We're talking about wines from France, as well as wines from around the world, to diversify the experience.

Who is Le Petit Ballon for?

The Little Balloon is a wine subscription service designed to be accessible to everyone. You don't need to be a seasoned wine enthusiast to enjoy the bottles sent to you, as you'll receive all the necessary information in the accompanying guides.

It's a fantastic gift that you can give to yourself or give to friends. Depending on your preferences, just choose the option that suits you best.

What are the different possible formulas?

Le Petit Ballon offers you four different subscription options, so you can choose the one that perfectly suits your tastes and your way of enjoying wine.

🔸 Grape Age, the formula discovered for wine enthusiasts

This option is the most accessible, at $19.90 per month. It's the one I was able to test. In the package, I found two wines that were quite affordable but very good. These wines are generally ready to drink when you receive them.

🔸 Bel Âge: the premium formula for enthusiasts

This gift box priced at $39.90 primarily includes more prestigious wines, which can be cellared. It features renowned wine labels, whether from France or other countries around the world.

🔸 100% ORGANIC, our selection of environmentally friendly organic wines

This option at $22.90 allows you to receive only certified organic wines. It's perfect if you pay attention to this criterion when shopping or if you want to choose a responsible consumption option.

🔸 100% BIODYNAMICS, for those interested in alternative farming methods

Biodynamic farming is a cultivation technique that draws on ancient knowledge, in harmony with the rhythms of nature. It involves respecting the needs of the land and biodiversity to minimise its impact on the environment. If you're interested in this practice, you can choose a 100% biodynamic option for $25.90, featuring wines certified by Demeter or Diodyvin.

Example of wines from a 100% Biodynamic box

Simplify Your Experience with the Le Petit Ballon App 📱

Le Petit Ballon offers a free downloadable app at:

• Google Play for Android phones,
• App Store for iPhones.

From here, you can manage your subscription to the box, as well as purchase wines directly. It features a particularly well-designed search system that allows you to find a wine based on:

• The type of wine (white, rosé, sparkling...),
• The dish it's paired with,
• The occasion,
• Your budget.

What is the cost of a Le Petit Ballon subscription? 💰

Each plan has its own pricing. Additionally, a delivery fee of $3.99 will apply unless you choose to pick up your parcel directly from our store in Paris. To make things easier for you, I’ve summarised everything in the table below.

👉 You can pay using a credit card, either Visa or Mastercard. At the moment, PayPal is not available for subscriptions; it can only be used if you’re ordering wine directly from the Le Petit Ballon online store.

What does a Le Petit Ballon box look like? Find out in our video!

When I subscribe to a service or order something online, I like to know in advance what to expect when my parcel arrives. With the wine box from Petit Ballon, I was particularly worried that the bottles might break during transit.

If you're also wondering the same thing, check out the unboxing of a Le Petit Ballon parcel in the video below:

👉 It's evident that the bottles are well packaged, with secure thick cardboard packaging.

Contents of a Le Petit Ballon box

You can also see what the tasting notes look like. One very handy detail is that they can be attached to the bottle!

How to Gift the Petit Ballon?

Le Petit Ballon makes an excellent gift for wine lovers, whether they are novices or enthusiasts. It’s a unique way to bring joy:

• to thank friends,
• to properly celebrate Father's Day or a birthday,
• as a Christmas gift,
• to commemorate a wedding or any other special occasion...

To help you treat your loved ones with gifts that truly suit them, Le Petit Ballon offers you several gift selections. Here’s how it works:

This is a gift voucher that you'll receive via email or post, and once passed on, it can be activated by the recipient.

👉 Giving a gift card is very simple! Just head to "GIVE A SUBSCRIPTION" in the menu at the top of the homepage, and then follow the prompts to explore the various options available to you.

🔶 First Option: Offer a Subscription Plan

In this case, you just need to select one of the plans detailed earlier and gift it for a duration of 3, 6, or 12 months. A custom duration ranging from 6 to 24 months is also available.

The various subscription options offered by Le Petit Ballon

📦 Please remember that the $3.99 shipping fee is not included in the base price shown below. However, when you select your offer on the site, it is factored into the final calculation.

🔶 Second Option: Choose a Custom Subscription

For those looking to try something different, Le Petit Ballon also offers themed subscriptions for three months (or six months if you choose the Ecole du Petit Ballon).

👉 There is also a gift pack featuring a selection of rum bottles for €179, available for a duration of 3 months.

Trust the selections from Petit Ballon for your wines

Le Petit Ballon isn't just about subscriptions for surprise wine deliveries. It's also a online store dedicated to selling wines, champagnes, and beers.

🤑 You can find some great prices, especially with the flash sales and special deals reserved for box subscribers.

Here are some of the flash sales available as I write this article:

👉 Feel free to check out the website: the stock and offers are regularly updated!

Discover Le Petit Ballon Shop in Paris!

This wine retailer isn't just online. Thanks to its success, it has opened two shops located in Paris, where you can find a selection of wines and champagnes.

📍 The first store is located at 43 Rue du Rocher in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The second store is situated at 79 Rue des Entrepreneurs in the 15th arrondissement of the capital.

⏰ Both are open from Tuesday to Thursday from 4 PM to 8 PM, and on Friday and Saturday from 12 PM to 8 PM.

What do testers say? Discover the reviews on Le Petit Ballon!

To better understand Le Petit Ballon and see if it meets your expectations, I’ve put together this brief summary based on various customer reviews I found on Trustpilot and Google.

About Trustpilot

Le Petit Ballon currently has over 3500 reviews on this verified review platform, with an excellent rating of 4.8 / 5.

This shows a high level of satisfaction among most customers. Let's take a closer look at what they particularly liked and what aspects could be improved.

💚 Customers of Le Petit Ballon Loved:

• The quality of the wines (praised by most customers!),
• The very clear explanations provided with each bottle,
• The reliable delivery,
• The efficiency of the customer service,
• The option to pause your subscription or have it delivered to your holiday location,

Positive review of Le Petit Ballon left by a customer on Trustpilot

❌ Customers were less satisfied:

• No phone customer service,
• Occasionally, some delivery delays.

Mixed review on Le Petit Ballon left on Trustpilot

On Google

The Google reviews for Le Petit Ballon reflect the profile of Parisian boutiques. However, many customers leave feedback about the subscription service, and the overall rating remains positive, similar to Trustpilot. In fact, they achieve a score of 4.5 / 5 based on over 1000 reviews.

💚 Customers share their wonderful discoveries made through the subscriptions, along with the promptness of customer service when there's an issue. The fast delivery is also highly valued.

❌ Negative comments, such as those on Trustpilot, highlight occasional delivery delays. Le Petit Ballon consistently responds to these reviews to provide a solution.

Le Petit Ballon on Social Media

The sommeliers at Petit Ballon are, of course, active on social media, keeping us up-to-date with the latest news from the company. You can find them on:

• Instagram, to discover the behind-the-scenes of creating the box, for example,
• Twitter, to chat with the team,
• Facebook, to see the latest updates and share your thoughts on this month's box with a community of over 85,000 followers.

The Little Balloon also has a YouTube channel, where the team shares wine discoveries along with tastings, selections based on your budget, and even some great tips related to oenology.

😊 I highly recommend it: I subscribed and I'm discovering heaps of things about wine!

Video Tip from Le Petit Ballon: Which Glass for Which Wine?

Is Petit Ballon a Scam? Can You Order with Confidence?

Who better than the French to talk about wine? Le Petit Ballon is indeed a French company that was established in 2011. It is based in Paris, in the 8th arrondissement, and currently has over 60 employees. Among them, there are web marketing specialists, but also, of course, experienced sommeliers.

The team behind Le Petit Ballon

The company cannot be contacted via a customer service phone line, but you can fill out a contact form on the website or send an email. Additionally, the team is very responsive and answers reviews left on Trustpilot and Google to provide solutions to the issues raised.

✅ Ordering from Petit Ballon is just like visiting a wine merchant, but online. The company is reputable and well-established: there's no reason to hesitate! 😉

My verdict on Le Petit Ballon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When we were offered a three-month subscription to Petit Ballon, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. My partner and I enjoy wine, but we're certainly no experts.

When we opened our first package, we were impressed by the practicality of the packaging and its sturdiness. Everything is designed to ensure that the bottles don’t break!

We also really appreciated the tips provided in the tasting notes that came with the bottles. For us, this is what truly adds value to this box: the sommelier's advice allows you to enjoy the wine with dishes that enhance its flavours.

Since we had the basic subscription at €19.90 per month, we received wines to enjoy right away. This suited us well because we don’t have a wine cellar.

We had the chance to taste several wines, some of which were truly delicious, like the Okoma, a wine from South Africa. We also enjoyed some French wines, including Bourgogne and Bordeaux.

We're a bit disappointed to see our subscription to Petit Ballon coming to an end, and we're considering resubscribing when the time comes, as the price is really great. It's also a fantastic gift idea that we're keeping in mind for Christmas or a birthday.

✅ My husband and I wholeheartedly recommend Le Petit Ballon. Like many other customers (as seen in the rating on Trustpilot), we have enjoyed some fantastic discoveries in a fun way, without any hassle.

FAQs about Le Petit Ballon: I answer YOUR questions!

👉 In this frequently asked questions section, I address the most common queries about the Petit Ballon. If you still can't find the answer to your question, feel free to ask it in the comments so I can add it to this list and respond! 😊

How to Get a Le Petit Ballon Promo Code?

As I write this article, there are currently no promo codes available on the website. Feel free to check the homepage in case that changes!

How to get a discount with Le Petit Ballon referrals?

If you know someone who wants to subscribe to Petit Ballon and you are already a subscriber, you can earn $20 and they will receive the same amount. To do this, simply log into your account and head to the "REFERRAL" section. Then, just send an invitation through the online form, by email, Facebook, or Twitter.

If your godchild subscribes, everyone will receive a voucher to use across the entire site!

What is the phone number for Le Petit Ballon?

The little Balloon does not have a phone customer service. However, you can get in touch with the team:

• via the contact form available on the website,
• by email, at bonjour@lepetitballon.com,
• by post, to the following address:
  Le Petit Ballon - Customer Service
  43 Rocher Street
  75008 PARIS

👉 You can also get in touch with Petit Ballon through social media on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter via direct message.

How do I activate my Le Petit Ballon gift card?

It's really simple! You just need to have a code, which you can enter in the form provided on this page. This will allow you to log in or create an account, to credit your gift and to set up your delivery.

How to get delivery to your holiday spot? 🌴

Le Petit Ballon gives you the option to have your order delivered directly to your holiday location. To do this, you need to change your address before the end of the current month so that it takes effect the following month. This can be done from your customer account, in the section "ADDRESS AND DELIVERY".

👉 Don’t forget to update your usual address afterwards!

How to pause your subscription?

If you want some peace of mind, you can also pause your subscription. Like changing your address, this needs to be done the month before.

To do this, log into your subscriber account, then go to "SUBSCRIPTION MANAGEMENT". After that, simply click on "SKIP TO NEXT MONTH".

How to Cancel Your Le Petit Ballon Subscription?

To unsubscribe, simply follow the instructions mentioned in the previous lines, but select "UNSUBSCRIBE ME". This will take effect from the following month. You can re-subscribe if you wish later on, and it will account for the packages you have already received, so there won't be any duplicates.

I hope this testimony and all the explanations have made you want to give Le Petit Ballon a go. For my husband and me, it was truly a delightful experience that we would love to repeat. And if you're a subscriber, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it: feel free to let me know in the comments! 😉