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

Whether it's a genuine passion or simply enjoying it with friends, wine often provides the perfect opportunity to share a delightful moment. The Le Petit Ballon subscription box that I’m introducing today offers you the chance to discover new flavours every month, featuring two unique wines.

My partner and I subscribed to this box for three months. Today, I'm sharing our thoughts and impressions on this culinary 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 attention to packaging,
• The fast delivery.

❌ What I Liked Less

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

How Does the Le Petit Ballon Subscription Work?

Le Petit Ballon invites you to discover a package each month that includes 2 selected wines, along with tasting tips. This box comes with a magazine about the world of wine. Everything is shipped to your home in a beautiful package.

For every wine you receive, you’ll benefit from the expertise of a sommelier, along with advice and information on:

• The wine profile (bold, complex, fruity),
• How to taste it (temperature, decanting, peak drinking age, storage...),
• What food to pair it with (meat, vegetables, fish, cheese...),
• Information about the wine (origin, designation, type of vineyard, grape varieties, ...).

Who selects the wines?

A careful selection process is applied to the wines included in the packages. Each wine is tasted and chosen by Jean-Michel Deluc, former head sommelier at the Ritz and a recognized Master Sommelier since 1991.

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

Which wines are we talking about?

In the packages, you'll find a variety of wine categories, including classic selections like Bordeaux and Champagne, as well as rosés and organic wines.

🌍 This is, of course, about wines from France, but also wines from around the world to enhance your enjoyment.

Who is Le Petit Ballon For?

The Little Balloon is a wine subscription service that aims to be general and accessible to everyone. You don't need to be an experienced wine enthusiast to enjoy the bottles sent to you, as you'll receive all the necessary information through the accompanying guides.

This makes for a great 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 options?

Le Petit Ballon offers you four different subscription options, so you can choose the one that perfectly matches your taste and wine-drinking style.

🔸 Age of Grapes: The Formula Discovered for Wine Lovers

This option is the most accessible, at $19.90 per month. It’s the one I had the chance to try out. In the package, I found two wines that are quite affordable but very good. These wines are usually ready to enjoy when you receive them.

🔸 Bel Âge, the premium formula for enthusiasts

This gift box priced at $39.90 primarily contains more prestigious wines that can be aged in the cellar. It features famous wine appellations, whether they are from France or other countries around the world.

🔸 100% Organic: A Selection of Eco-Friendly Organic Wines

This option at $22.90 allows you to receive only certified organic wines. It's ideal if you pay attention to this factor in your purchases or if you want to choose a responsible consumption approach.

🔸 100% BIODYNAMICS, for those interested in alternative agriculture

Biodynamic farming is a cultivation technique that draws on traditional knowledge, in harmony with the rhythms of nature. It involves respecting the needs of the land and biodiversity to minimize 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 there, you can manage your subscription to the box, as well as purchase wines directly. It features a very well-designed search system that allows you to find a wine based on:

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

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

Each plan has its own price. Additionally, you will need to add a shipping fee of $3.99, unless you choose to pick up your package directly at the store in Paris. To make things easier for you, I've summarized all of this in the table that follows.

👉 You can pay using a credit card, either Visa or Mastercard. Currently, PayPal is not an available option for subscriptions; it can only be used if you are purchasing wine directly from the Le Petit Ballon online store.

What does a Le Petit Ballon box look like? Discover it in our video!

When I subscribe to a service or order something online, I really appreciate knowing what to expect when my package arrives. With the wine box from Petit Ballon, I was particularly worried that the bottles might break during shipping.

If you're wondering the same thing, take a look at a Le Petit Ballon package in the video below:

👉 We notice that the bottles are well packaged, secured with thick cardboard packaging.

Contents of a Le Petit Ballon box

You can also see what the tasting notes look like. One convenient 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 enthusiasts, whether they are beginners or connoisseurs. It's a unique idea to bring joy:

• to thank friends,
• to properly celebrate Father's Day or their 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 several gift selections. Here’s how it works:

This is a gift card that you will receive via email or by mail, and once it’s passed on, it can be activated by the recipient.

👉 Giving a gift card is easy! Just go to "GIVE A SUBSCRIPTION" in the menu at the top of the homepage, and then follow the prompts through the different options available to you.

🔶 Option One: Offer a Subscription Plan

In this case, all you need to do is choose one of the plans detailed earlier and offer it for a duration of 3, 6, or 12 months. A custom duration of 6 to 24 months is also available.

The various subscription options offered by Le Petit Ballon

📦 Please note that the $3.99 shipping fee is not included in the base price indicated below. However, when you select your deal on the website, it will be included in the final calculation.

🔶 Second option: choose a custom subscription

For those looking to try something different, Le Petit Ballon also offers themed subscriptions lasting three months (or six months if you're interested in the École du Petit Ballon).

👉 There is also a gift pack available that includes a selection of rum bottles for $179, which lasts for 3 months.

For Your Wines, Trust the Selections from Petit Ballon

Le Petit Ballon is not just about subscriptions for receiving surprise wine packages. It also includes a online shop dedicated to selling wines, champagnes, and beers.

🤑 You can find some great prices, including flash sales and exclusive deals for box subscribers.

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

👉 Feel free to check out the website: the inventory and deals are updated regularly!

Discover Le Petit Ballon Shop in Paris!

This wine retailer is not just online. Building on its success, it has opened two stores 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 Think? Discover Reviews on Le Petit Ballon!

To better understand Le Petit Ballon and see if it meets your expectations, I invite you to check out this brief summary I created 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 reflects a high level of satisfaction among most customers. Let's take a closer look at what they particularly enjoyed and what areas 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,
• Reliable delivery,
• The efficiency of customer service,
• The option to pause your subscription or have it delivered to your vacation spot,

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

❌ Customers were less satisfied:

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

Mixed Review of Le Petit Ballon on Trustpilot

On Google

The Google reviews for Le Petit Ballon reflect the profile of boutique shops in Paris. However, many customers leave feedback about the subscription service, and the overall rating remains positive, similar to what we see on Trustpilot. In fact, they boast a score of 4.5 / 5 from over 1000 reviews.

💚 Customers share their wonderful discoveries made possible through their subscriptions, as well as the responsiveness of customer service when any issues arise. The fast delivery is also highly valued.

❌ Negative reviews, such as those on Trustpilot, mention 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 updated on the latest news from the company. You can find them on:

• Instagram, to explore the behind-the-scenes of creating the box, for instance,
• Twitter, to connect with the team,
• Facebook, to check out the latest updates and share your thoughts on this month's box with a community of over 85,000 followers.

Le Petit Ballon also has a YouTube channel, where the team shares their wine discoveries along with tastings, selections based on your budget, and even some great tips related to winemaking.

😊 I highly recommend it: I've subscribed and I'm discovering so many 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 founded in 2011. It is based in Paris, in the 8th arrondissement, and today employs over 60 people. Among them, you will find web marketing specialists, as well as, of course, experienced sommeliers.

The team behind Le Petit Ballon

The company does not have a customer service phone line, but you can fill out a contact form on their website or send an email. Additionally, the team is very responsive and addresses reviews left on Trustpilot and Google to provide solutions to any issues encountered.

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

My Verdict on Le Petit Ballon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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

We also really appreciated the tips provided in the tasting notes that accompanied the bottles. For us, this is what truly enhances this box: the sommelier's recommendations allow you to pair the wine with dishes that complement its flavours.

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

We were able to taste several wines, some of which were truly delicious, such as the Okoma, a wine from South Africa. We also enjoyed French wines, including some from Burgundy and Bordeaux.

We're a bit disappointed to see our subscription to Petit Ballon come to an end, and we're considering resubscribing at some point because the price is really appealing. 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 (based on the rating on Trustpilot), we had the pleasure of discovering some wonderful selections in a fun and enjoyable way without any hassles.

FAQs about Le Petit Ballon: I'm answering YOUR questions!

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

How to Get a Promo Code for Le Petit Ballon?

As I write this article, there are currently no promotional codes available on the site. Feel free to check the homepage to see if anything has changed!

How to Get a Discount with a Le Petit Ballon Referral?

If you know someone who wants to subscribe to Le Petit Ballon and you are already a subscriber, you can earn $20 and they can earn the same amount. To do this, simply go to your account, then navigate to the "REFERRAL" section. You just need to send an invitation using the online form, by email, Facebook, or Twitter.

If your referral signs up, everyone will receive a gift voucher to use across the entire site!

What is the phone number for Le Petit Ballon?

The little Balloon doesn’t have a telephone customer service. However, you can still reach out to the team:

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

👉 You can also contact Le Petit Ballon through social media, on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, via private message.

How do I activate my Le Petit Ballon gift card?

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

How to Get Deliveries at Your Vacation Spot? 🌴

Le Petit Ballon gives you the option to have your order delivered directly to your vacation spot. To do this, you need to update your address before the end of the current month so that it takes effect the following month. You can do this from your client area under 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 must be done the previous month.

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

How to Cancel Your Subscription to Le Petit Ballon?

To unsubscribe, simply follow the instructions provided in the previous lines, but select "UNSUBSCRIBE ME". This will take effect from the following month. You will be able to resubscribe if you wish later, and it will account for any 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 try Le Petit Ballon. 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 know what you thought of it: feel free to share your thoughts in the comments! 😉