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

Whether it's a true passion or just enjoying a glass with friends, wine often brings people together for a good time. Today, I'm introducing you to the Le Petit Ballon box, which 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 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 reachable via form (no phone number available),
• No Paypal payment for subscriptions (credit card only).

How does the Le Petit Ballon subscription work?

Le Petit Ballon invites you to discover a monthly package featuring 2 selected wines, along with tasting tips. This package comes with a magazine about the world of wine. Everything is delivered to your home in a well-presented package.

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

• The wine profile (full-bodied, 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 you'll find in the packages. All of them are tasted and chosen by Jean-Michel Deluc, former head sommelier of the Ritz and recognized as a Master Sommelier since 1991.

Jean Michel Deluc, Master Sommelier, the mastermind behind Petit Ballon's wine selections

What wines are we talking about?

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

🌍 We’re talking about French wines, as well as 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 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 you can give to yourself or even gift to friends. Depending on your preferences, just choose the option that suits you best.

What are the different options available?

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

🔸 Grape Age, the formula discovered for wine enthusiasts

This option is the most affordable, at SGD 19.90 per month. This is the one I had a chance to try. In the package, there were two wines, quite reasonably priced, but really good. These wines are usually ready to enjoy when you receive them.

🔸 Bel Âge, the premium formula for enthusiasts

This set priced at 39.90 € mainly includes slightly more prestigious wines that can be cellared. You will find famous labels, whether they are from France or other countries around the world.

🔸 100% BIO, a selection of organic wines that are eco-friendly

This option at S$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.

🔸 100% BIODYNAMICS, for those interested in alternative farming

Biodynamics is a farming method that draws on ancient knowledge, in harmony with the rhythms of nature. It involves respecting the needs of the land and biodiversity, aiming to minimise its impact on the environment. If this practice interests you, you can choose a 100% biodynamic option for S$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 on:

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

From this point, you can manage your subscription to the box, as well as purchase wines directly. It also 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 it's paired with,
• The occasion,
• Your budget.

What is the price of the Le Petit Ballon subscription? 💰

Each package has its own price. Additionally, you need to factor in a delivery fee of S$3.99, unless you choose to pick up your order directly at the store in Paris. To make things easier for you, I’ve summarised everything in the table below.

👉 You can make payments using a credit card, either Visa or Mastercard. At the moment, PayPal payments are not available for subscriptions; it's only an option if you purchase wine directly from the Le Petit Ballon online shop.

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

When I sign up for a subscription or order something online, I really appreciate knowing in advance what to expect when I receive the package. For the Petit Ballon wine box, I was particularly concerned that the bottles might break during transit.

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

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

Contents of a Le Petit Ballon box

You can also check out what the tasting notes look like. One handy detail to note 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 beginners or enthusiasts. It's a unique idea that is sure to delight:

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

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 card that you will receive via email or by post, and once it has been passed on, it can be activated by the recipient.

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

🔶 Option One: Offer a Subscription Plan

In this case, all you need to do is select one of the plans outlined earlier and offer 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 note that the shipping fee of S$3.99 is not included in the base price shown below. However, when you select your offer on the website, this will be factored into the final calculation.

🔶 Second option: choose a personalised subscription

For those who are looking to try something different, Le Petit Ballon also offers thematic subscriptions for three months (or six months if you're interested in the Ecole du Petit Ballon).

👉 There's also a gift pack available that includes a selection of rum bottles for SGD 179 for a duration of 3 months.

For Your Wines, Trust the Selections from Petit Ballon

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 exclusive rates 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 deals are updated regularly!

Check out Le Petit Ballon shop in Paris!

This wine retailer isn't just online. Due to 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 at 79 Rue des Entrepreneurs, in the 15th arrondissement of the capital.

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

What do testers think? Find out the reviews on Le Petit Ballon!

To help you better understand Le Petit Ballon and see if it meets your expectations, I’ve put together a brief summary based on the 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, boasting 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 aspects could be improved.

💚 Customers of Le Petit Ballon loved:

• The quality of the wines (highly 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 deliveries made 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, there are some delivery delays.

Mixed reviews about Le Petit Ballon on Trustpilot

On Google

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

💚 Customers share their wonderful discoveries thanks to the subscriptions, as well as the prompt response from customer service whenever there's an issue. The fast delivery is also highly appreciated.

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

Le Petit Ballon on Social Media

The sommeliers at Petit Ballon are certainly active on social media, keeping us updated with the latest news from the company. You can find them on:

• Instagram, to find out about the behind-the-scenes of creating our wine box, for example,
• Twitter, to chat with our team,
• Facebook, to check out the latest updates and share your thoughts on this month's box with our 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 so many things about wine!

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

Is Petit Ballon a scam? Can we 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 are web marketing specialists as well as, of course, experienced sommeliers.

The team behind Le Petit Ballon

The company does not provide a phone customer service 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, so you can go ahead without any hesitation! 😉

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 parcel, we were really 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 helps to pair 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 worked well for us as we don't have a wine cellar.

We were able 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 Burgundy and Bordeaux.

We’re a bit disappointed that our subscription to Petit Ballon is coming to an end, and we’re considering resubscribing at some point, as the price is really attractive. It’s also a great gift idea that we’re keeping in mind for Christmas or for a birthday.

✅ My husband and I absolutely recommend Le Petit Ballon. Like many other customers (judging by the rating on Trustpilot), we've had the pleasure of making some wonderful discoveries in a fun way, without any hassle.

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

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

How to Get a Le Petit Ballon Promo Code?

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

How to Get a Discount with Le Petit Ballon Referral?

If you know someone who wants to subscribe to Petit Ballon and you're already a subscriber, you can earn S$30 and help them earn the same amount. All you need to do is log into your account and go to the "REFERRAL" section. Then, simply send an invitation via the online form, email, Facebook, or Twitter.

If your referral signs up, both of you will receive a voucher that can be used across the entire site!

What is the phone number for Petit Ballon?

The little Ballon does not have a phone support service. However, you can contact the team:

• through the contact form available on the website,
• via email at bonjour@lepetitballon.com,
• by mail 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 easy! 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 that you can activate your gift and set up your delivery.

How to Get Deliveries While on Holiday? 🌴

Le Petit Ballon gives you the option to have your deliveries sent directly to your holiday location. To do this, you need to update your address before the end of the current month so that it will be effective the following month. You can do this from your customer account, under the section "ADDRESS AND DELIVERY".

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

How to pause your subscription?

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

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

How to Cancel Your Le Petit Ballon Subscription?

To unsubscribe, just follow the steps mentioned earlier, but select "UNSUBSCRIBE ME". This will be effective from the following month. You can resubscribe if you wish later on, and it will consider the parcels you have already received, so you won't end up with duplicates.

I hope this testimonial and all this information have made you excited to try Le Petit Ballon. For my husband and me, it was truly a very enjoyable 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 let me know in the comments! 😉