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

Whether it's a genuine passion or simply a way to enjoy good times with friends, wine often provides the perfect opportunity to share a lovely moment. The box Le Petit Ballon, which I'm introducing 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 impressions about 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 careful packaging,
• The fast delivery.

❌ I liked it less

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

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

• The wine profile (bold, complex, fruity),
• How to taste it (temperature, decanting, peak maturity, storage...),
• 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?

Great care is taken in selecting the wines included in the packages. All of these wines are tasted and chosen by Jean-Michel Deluc, former head sommelier at the Ritz and recognised as a Master Sommelier since 1991.

Jean Michel Deluc, Master Sommelier, the man behind the selections at Petit Ballon

Which wines are we talking about?

In the packages, you will find various categories of wines, including classic favourites such as Bordeaux, Champagne, as well as rosés and organic wines.

🌍 We're talking about French wines, as well as wines from around the world, to add some variety to the experience.

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 connoisseur to enjoy the bottles sent to you, as you will receive all the necessary information in the accompanying guides.

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

What are the different possible options?

The Little Balloon offers you four different subscription options, so you can choose the one that perfectly matches your tastes and your way of enjoying wine.

🔸 Grape Age, the formula discovered for wine lovers

This option is the most accessible, at R19.90 per month. This is the one I was able to test. In the package, there were two wines, quite affordable, but very good. These wines are generally ready to enjoy when you receive them.

🔸 Bel Âge, the premium formula for enthusiasts

This box, priced at R39.90, primarily contains slightly more prestigious wines, which can be aged in a cellar. It features famous labels, whether from France or other countries around the world.

🔸 100% ORGANIC, the selection of eco-friendly wines

This option at R22.90 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 responsible consumption.

🔸 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 aims to respect the needs of the land and biodiversity, minimising its impact on the environment as much as possible. If this practice piques your interest, you can choose a 100% biodynamic option for R25.90, 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 available 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 an excellent search system that allows you to find a wine based on:

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

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

Each formula has its own price. Additionally, you need to add a delivery fee of R99.00, unless you collect your parcel directly from the store in Paris. To make things easier for you, I've summarised all this in the table that follows.

👉 You can pay using a credit card, either Visa or Mastercard. Currently, payment via PayPal is not available for subscriptions; it is only an option if you are purchasing 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 subscribe to a service or order something online, I appreciate knowing in advance what to expect when my package arrives. With the Petit Ballon wine box, I was particularly worried that the bottles might break during transit.

If you're wondering the same thing, take a look at this video unpacking a Le Petit Ballon box below:

👉 It's clear 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 practical 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 spread some joy:

• to thank friends,
• to properly celebrate Father's Day or his birthday,
• as a Christmas gift,
• to make a statement for 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 via email or post, and once passed on, it can be activated by the recipient.

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

🔶 First option: offer a subscription plan

In this case, you just need to choose one of the plans outlined previously 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 remember that the R3.99 shipping fee is not included in the base price listed below. However, when you select your offer on the site, it is taken into account in the final calculation.

🔶 Second Option: Choose a Custom Subscription

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

👉 There is also a gift pack available featuring a selection of rum bottles for R3,500, which lasts for three months.

Trust the Petit Ballon selections for your wines

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

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

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

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

Explore the Le Petit Ballon shop in Paris!

This wine retailer isn't just online. With its success, it has opened two stores 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 store is located at 79 Entrepreneurs Street, in the 15th arrondissement of the capital.

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

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

To better understand Le Petit Ballon and see if it meets your expectations, I’d like to share a brief summary I've created based on various customer reviews that I found on Trustpilot and Google.

About Trustpilot

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

This reflects a high level of satisfaction from most 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 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 telephone 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 about the subscription, and the overall rating remains positive, similar to that on Trustpilot. In fact, the score reaches 4.5 / 5 based on more than 1000 reviews.

💚 Customers share their wonderful discoveries made through the subscriptions, as well as the promptness of the customer service in addressing any issues. The quick delivery is also highly valued.

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

• Instagram, to explore the behind-the-scenes of the box creation, for example,
• 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 oenology.

😊 I highly recommend it: I subscribed and I'm discovering so many things about wine!

Video Tip from The Little Balloon: Which Glass for Which Wine?

Is Petit Ballon a scam? Can one order with complete confidence?

Who better than the French to talk about wine? Le Petit Ballon is, in fact, 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, you'll find specialists in web marketing, as well as, 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 addresses reviews left on Trustpilot and Google to provide solutions to any issues encountered.

✅ Ordering from Petit Ballon is just 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 given a three-month subscription to Petit Ballon, I wasn't really sure what to expect. My partner and I enjoy wine, but we're definitely not experts.

When we opened our first parcel, 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 accompanied the bottles. For us, this is what really sets this box apart: the sommelier's advice allows you to enjoy the wine with dishes that highlight its qualities.

Since we had the basic subscription, at R19.90 per month, we received wines to taste straight away. This was perfect for us, as 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 South African wine. We also enjoyed some French wines, including Burgundy and Bordeaux.

We're a bit disappointed to see our subscription to Petit Ballon come to an end, and we're considering renewing our subscription soon, as the pricing is really attractive. 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 the rating on Trustpilot), we’ve made some fantastic discoveries in a fun way and without any hassle.

FAQ about The Little Balloon: I answer YOUR questions!

👉 In this frequently asked questions section, I address the most common questions about Petit Ballon. If you don't find the answer to your question here, feel free to leave a comment so that 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 promotional codes available on the site. Feel free to check the homepage to see if that has changed!

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

If you know someone who wants to subscribe to Petit Ballon and you’re already a subscriber yourself, you could earn R20 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 using the online form, via email, Facebook, or Twitter.

If your friend subscribes, everyone will receive a voucher to use site-wide!

What is the phone number for Petit Ballon?

The Little Balloon does not have a telephone customer service. However, you can contact 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 activate your gift and set up your delivery.

How to get deliveries to your holiday destination? 🌴

Le Petit Ballon offers you the option to have your orders delivered directly to your holiday destination. To make this happen, you need to change your address before the end of the current month so that it can take effect the following month. You can do this 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'd like some peace of mind, you can also pause your subscription. Similar to changing your address, this needs to be done the month before.

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

How to Cancel Your Le Petit Ballon Subscription?

To unsubscribe, just follow the instructions provided above, but select "UNSUBSCRIBE". This will be effective from the following month. You can resubscribe if you wish later on, and it will account for the parcels already received, to avoid duplicates.

I hope that this testimony and all these explanations have made you keen 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 already a subscriber, I’m curious to know what you thought of it: feel free to let me know in the comments! 😉