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

Whether it's a true passion or just enjoying it with friends, wine often brings people together for a good time. The "Le petit Ballon" 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 feedback and impressions 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 advice,
• The careful packaging,
• The fast delivery.

❌ What I Liked Less

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

How does the Le Petit Ballon subscription work?

Le Petit Ballon invites you to explore a package each month containing 2 carefully selected wines, along with tasting notes. This box also includes a magazine about the world of wine. Everything is delivered to your door in a beautifully crafted package.

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

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

Who selects the wines?

We pay careful attention to the selection of wines included in the packages. All of these wines are 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, founder of the selections at Petit Ballon

Which wines are we talking about?

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

🌍 We're talking about French wines, but also wines from around the world, to add a bit of variety to the experience.

Who is Le Petit Ballon for?

The Little Balloon is a wine subscription that aims to be general and accessible to everyone. You don’t need to be a seasoned connoisseur to enjoy the bottles sent to you, as you will have all the necessary information provided in the guides that accompany them.

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

What are the different options available?

The Little Balloon offers you four different subscription options so you can choose the one that perfectly matches your tastes and how you enjoy your wine.

🔸 Age of Grapes, the formula uncovered for wine lovers

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

🔸 Bel Âge, the premium formula for enthusiasts

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

🔸 100% ORGANIC, a 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're mindful of this criterion when shopping or if you want to choose a responsible consumption approach.

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

Biodynamic farming is a cultivation method that draws on traditional knowledge, in harmony with the rhythms of nature. It focuses on respecting the unique needs of the land and its biodiversity, aiming to minimise its impact on the environment. If this practice interests you, there is a 100% biodynamic option available for $25.90, featuring wines certified by Demeter or Diodyvin organisations.

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 has 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 price of the Le Petit Ballon subscription? 💰

Each option comes with its own price. Additionally, you’ll need to add a delivery fee of $5.99, unless you choose to pick up your parcel directly from the store in Paris. To make things easier for you, I’ve summarised it all in the table below.

👉 You can pay using a credit card, either Visa or Mastercard. At the moment, PayPal payment is not available for subscriptions; it can only be used if you are 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 sign up for a subscription or order something online, I like to know in advance what to expect when my package arrives. With the Petit Ballon's wine box, I was particularly worried that the bottles would break during transit.

If you're 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 sturdy, secure cardboard packaging.

Contents of a Le Petit Ballon box

You can also see what the tasting notes look like. One very handy feature 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're beginners or seasoned aficionados. It's a unique idea to bring joy:

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

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

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

👉 Giving a gift voucher is really easy! Just head over to "GIVE A SUBSCRIPTION" in the menu at the top of the homepage, and then follow the prompts to explore the different options available to you.

🔶 First Option: Offer a Subscription Plan

In this case, all you need to do is choose one of the plans outlined earlier, and gift it for a duration of 3, 6, or 12 months. A customised duration of 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 listed below. However, when you select your offer on the site, it is included in the final calculation.

🔶 Second option: choose a customised subscription

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

👉 There's also a gift pack available, featuring a selection of rum bottles for NZ$ 179, which lasts for three months.

For your wines, trust the selections from Petit Ballon

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

🤑 You'll find some great deals, especially with the flash sales and exclusive discounts 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 deals are refreshed regularly!

Discover Le Petit Ballon shop in Paris!

This wine retailer isn't just available online. Building on 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 Rocher Street, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The second is at 79 Entrepreneurs Street, in the 15th arrondissement of the capital.

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

What do testers think? Discover the 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've created based on various customer reviews I've 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 from the majority of customers. Let’s take a closer look at what they particularly liked and what areas could use some improvement.

💚 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 destination,

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

❌ Customers were less impressed:

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

Mixed review of 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 rating remains positive, similar to Trustpilot. In fact, it achieves a score of 4.5 / 5 based on more than 1000 reviews.

💚 Customers share their wonderful discoveries that they've made thanks to the subscriptions, as well as their appreciation for the customer service's quick response to any issues. The fast delivery is also highly valued.

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

Le Petit Ballon on Social Media

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

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

The Little Balloon also has a YouTube channel, where the team shares their wine discoveries, tasting reviews, selections based on your budget, and even some great tips related to wine and winemaking.

😊 I highly recommend it: I've subscribed and I'm discovering so much 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 now employs over 60 staff members. Among them are web marketing specialists and, of course, experienced sommeliers.

The team behind Le Petit Ballon

The company cannot be reached via a telephone customer service, but you can fill out a contact form on the website or send an email. The team is also very responsive and replies to 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, so there's no need to hesitate! 😉

My verdict on Le Petit Ballon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When we were given 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 tips provided in the tasting notes that came with the bottles. For us, this is what truly enhances this box: the sommelier's advice helps you enjoy the wine with dishes that bring out its best qualities.

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

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

We're a bit disappointed to see our subscription to Petit Ballon coming to an end, and we're considering resubscribing at some point, because the price is really appealing. It's also a great 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 their Trustpilot rating), we've made some wonderful discoveries in a fun and engaging way, without any hassles.

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

👉 In this FAQ, I answer the most common questions about 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! 😊

How to get a Promo Code for Le Petit Ballon?

As I write this article, there are no promo codes available on the website. 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 would like to subscribe to Petit Ballon and you’re already a subscriber yourself, you can win $20 and help them win the same amount. To do this, simply log into your account and go 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 Petit Ballon?

The little Balloon doesn't have a phone support service. However, you can still 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 Rue du Rocher
  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, so you can redeem your gift and set up your delivery.

How to get deliveries to your holiday spot? 🌴

Le Petit Ballon gives you the opportunity 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. You can do this from your customer account, 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 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 outlined above, but choose "UNSUBSCRIBE". This will take effect from the following month. You can resubscribe if you wish later on, and it will consider the packages you have already received to avoid any duplicates.

I hope this testimonial and all of these explanations have made you keen to try Le Petit Ballon. For my husband and me, it was truly a lovely experience that we would happily repeat. If you’re a subscriber, I’m curious to know what you thought of it: feel free to let me know in the comments! 😉