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

Whether it's a genuine passion or just enjoying it with friends, wine often provides the perfect opportunity to share a lovely moment. The Le Petit Ballon subscription box that I'm introducing to you today offers the chance 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 thoughts and impressions on this culinary experience!

What is Le Petit Ballon?

💖 I loved it

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

❌ I liked it less

• Customer service only available via a contact 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 explore a monthly package featuring 2 carefully selected wines, along with tasting advice. This box also comes with a magazine dedicated to the world of wine. Everything is delivered to your door in elegant packaging.

With every wine you receive, you'll benefit from the expertise of a sommelier who will provide you with tips and information on:

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

Who selects the wines?

Great care is taken in selecting the wines included in the packages. Each one 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, the mastermind behind the selections at Petit Ballon

What wines are we talking about?

In the boxes, you'll find a variety of wine categories, including classics like Bordeaux and Champagne, as well as rosé wines and organic wines.

🌍 These are, of course, wines from France, but also wines from around the world, to keep things interesting.

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 a seasoned enthusiast to enjoy the bottles sent to you, as you'll have all the necessary information provided in the accompanying guides.

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

What are the different possible options?

The Little Balloon offers you four different subscription plans, so you can choose the one that perfectly suits your tastes and your wine tasting preferences.

🔸 Age of Grape: The Discoveries for Wine Enthusiasts

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, there were two wines, which were quite affordable, but very good. These wines are generally ready to drink when you receive them.

🔸 Bel Âge, the premium choice for enthusiasts

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

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

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.

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

Biodynamics is a farming technique that draws on traditional knowledge, in harmony with the rhythms of nature. It focuses on respecting the needs of the land and biodiversity, aiming 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 Little Balloon 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 very well-designed search system, which allows you to find a wine based on:

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

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

Each plan has its own price. Additionally, you'll need to add a delivery fee of €3.99, unless you choose to collect your parcel directly from the shop in Paris. To make things easier for you, I've summarised all of this in the table below.

👉 You can pay by credit card, Visa or Mastercard. At the moment, payment via Paypal is not available for subscriptions; it is only possible if you order wine directly from the Le Petit Ballon online shop.

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

When I sign up for a subscription or order something online, I really appreciate knowing what to expect when my parcel arrives. With the Petit Ballon wine box, I was particularly worried that the bottles might break during delivery.

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

👉 We can see that the bottles are well packaged, with secure thick cardboard wrapping.

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're beginners or enthusiasts. It's a unique idea to bring a smile to their face:

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

To help you spoil 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 card that you will receive by email or post, and once passed on, it can be activated by the recipient.

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

🔶 First Option: Offer a Subscription Plan

In this case, all you need to do is select one of the options outlined earlier and gift it for a duration of 3, 6, or 12 months. A custom duration of 6 to 24 months is also available.

The different 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 website, it will be 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 lasting three months (or six months if you're interested in the School of Le Petit Ballon).

👉 There's also a gift pack available, featuring a selection of rum bottles for €179, lasting for 3 months.

For Your Wines, Trust the Selections from Petit Ballon

Le Petit Ballon isn’t just about subscriptions for receiving surprise wine packages. It also features a online shop dedicated to selling wines, champagnes, and beers.

🤑 You can find some great prices, especially with the flash sales and exclusive offers for box subscribers.

Here are some of the flash sales available at the time I'm writing this article:

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

Discover the Le Petit Ballon shop in Paris!

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

📍 The first shop is located at 43 Rocher Street, in the 8th arrondissement, Paris. The second shop can be found at 79 Entrepreneurs Street, in the 15th arrondissement of the city.

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

What do those who have tried it think? Discover the reviews of Le Petit Ballon!

To get a better understanding of Le Petit Ballon and see if it meets your expectations, I'd like to share this brief summary I’ve put together based on various customer reviews I found on Trustpilot and Google.

About Trustpilot

Le Petit Ballon currently has over 3,500 reviews on this verified review platform, with an excellent rating of 4.8 / 5.

This reflects a high level of satisfaction among the majority of customers. Let's take a closer look at what they particularly enjoyed and what areas could be improved.

💚 Customers of Le Petit Ballon enjoyed:

• The quality of the wines (praised by most customers!),
• The clear explanations provided with each bottle,
• The reliability of the delivery service,
• 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 reviews on Le Petit Ballon left on Trustpilot

On Google

The Google reviews for Petit Ballon reflect the character of Parisian shops. However, many customers are leaving feedback about the subscription service, and the rating remains positive, similar to what we see on Trustpilot. In fact, it reaches a score of 4.5 / 5 based on over 1000 reviews.

💚 Customers share their wonderful discoveries they've made thanks to the subscriptions, as well as the promptness of customer service when any issues arise. They also appreciate the fast delivery.

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

The Little Balloon on Social Media

The sommeliers at Petit Ballon are, of course, active on social media to keep us updated on the latest news from the company. You can especially find them on:

• Instagram, to discover the behind-the-scenes of creating the box, for instance,
• Twitter, to have a 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.

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 oenology.

😊 I really recommend it: I subscribed and I'm discovering loads 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 more than 60 employees. Among them are web marketing specialists, as well as, of course, experienced sommeliers.

The team behind Le Petit Ballon

The company cannot be reached by phone customer service, but you can fill out a contact form on the website or send an email. Additionally, the team is very responsive and replies to reviews left on Trustpilot and Google, working to resolve any issues that arise.

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

My verdict on Le Petit Ballon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When we were gifted a three-month subscription to Petit Ballon, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. My partner and I enjoy wine, but we're 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 that the bottles don’t break!

We also really appreciated the advice provided in the tasting notes that came with the bottles. For us, this is what truly enhances this box: the sommelier's recommendations allow you to enjoy the wine with dishes that highlight its qualities.

As we had the basic subscription at €19.90 per month, we received wines to taste right away. This suited us perfectly, as we don’t have a wine cellar.

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

We’re a bit disappointed to see our subscription to Petit Ballon coming to an end, and we are considering resubscribing in the future, as the price is really good. It’s also a brilliant 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 from the rating on Trustpilot), we’ve had some wonderful discoveries, all in a fun way and without any hassle.

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

👉 In this FAQ, I address the most common questions regarding the Petit Ballon. If you 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 to it! 😊

How to Get a Le Petit Ballon Promo Code?

At the time of writing this article, there are no promo codes available on the site. Feel free to check the homepage to see if that has changed!

How to get a discount with a referral from Le Petit Ballon?

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

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

What is the phone number for Petit Ballon?

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

• through 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 Rue du Rocher
  75008 PARIS

👉 You can also get in touch with Petit Ballon through social media on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, by sending a private message.

How do I activate my Le Petit Ballon gift card?

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

How to get deliveries at your holiday location? 🌴

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 will be effective the following month. You can update this in your account area, under the section "ADDRESS AND DELIVERY".

👉 Don't forget to provide your usual address afterwards!

How to pause your subscription?

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

To do this, log in to your subscription 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, just follow the instructions in the previous lines, but choose "UNSUBSCRIBE ME". This will be processed from the following month. You will be able to resubscribe if you wish later on, and it will take into account the packages you've already received, to avoid any duplicates.

I hope that this testimony and all these explanations have given you the desire to try Le Petit Ballon. For my husband and me, it was truly a very enjoyable experience that we would be delighted to repeat. And if you're a subscriber, I’m curious to know what you thought about it: feel free to let me know in the comments! 😉