As wine writers, we are always looking for the best of both worlds: where to take our three very-active boys — ages 11, 13 and 15 — while checking out the wine scene in a location abroad.

Fortunately, Maison de la France, the public relations arm that encourages French tourism, came to our rescue this year when we attended one of their press luncheons and decided that Paris would give us our proverbial cake and let us eat it too.