<p>I’m accompanying a group of students to London and Paris this summer. Most are over 21, and would be of legal age to drink in Europe in any case. Although university policy would not approve of an officially-sponsored event involving drinking, it is okay if we plan an unofficial activity.</p>
<p>The students want to do a wine tasting in Paris. All we’ve been able to find online is above their budget - 30 euro for three “glasses” of wine. I’m thinking that they might be able to create their own wine tasting with a little research, and we could have a “French Cultural Dinner” with wine and cheese and a nice baguette etc. But I’m not expert, she said modestly and accurately, and I could use any advice people have.</p>
<p>I know we should move from whites to reds, and that pairing wines with cheeses can enhance the experience of both. After that, however, I’m almost as clueless as the students! </p>
<p>Throw me a lifeline, please! We are staying in an apartment style hotel, so we will have a small kitchenette at our command, but I don’t think we want to get into gourmet cooking. We will enthusiastically toast anyone who helps out!</p>
<p>If you are acting as a chaperone hired by the university to accompany the students then I would not have anything to do with the planning and alcohol.
Bringing alcohol into the living spaces where some of the students aren’t 21 years old may upset parents.
The 21 year olds can go to a restaurant on their own and enjoy wine tasting.</p>
<p>Here is a list arranged by arrondissement. Unless your group is unusually large, most wine stores will be more than happy to uncork the bottles, especially the ones with a gourmet section. </p>
<p>The fun of such adventure should be to place a very low limit on the bottles, and compare a 5 Euro bottle to something twice or three times more expensive. There is no art in spending a small fortune on a wine bottle in Paris. </p>
<p>PS On the same site, check the listings for </p>
<p>That is quite the site, Xiggi! Thanks so much, heading for Paris before long.</p>
<p>To the OP, there has to be someone in Paris who would do a less than break the bank wine evening for your group. Maybe email someone from that list to see what can be recommended? Or find some American resident list serve and see if an expat resident might be willing to suggest a leader or lead such an event. And then find an over 21 student to be in charge or arranging, so you are off the hook.</p>
<p>When I took a group to France years ago, we used to do a pot luck for our evening meal. Those who were into cooking could use the kitchenette, but mainly everyone just took advantage of the local p</p>
<p>Great suggestions - I really like the web site, xiggi! (Am tempted to throw the students under the bus and just go on the tour with the other chaperones…)</p>
<p>I agree that I’m pushing the edge of official rules. But I know these kids are going to drink and I’d rather them drink responsibly at the hotel rather than stumbling drunkenly through the streets of Paris. They are very nice people, and I’m counting on a lack of funds to provide a barrier to their worst potential excesses!</p>
<p>When my S went to Europe in HS, there was a release we could sign allowing drinking with the school group from our local HS. Feelings were mixed, but most of us signed, as legal drinking with the chaperones seemed far better than the typical less than chaperoned drinking experience of most American kids.</p>