I discovered Monaco’s most exclusive club. You have to go down beneath the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo (or more precisely, the entrance is next to the Hotel Hermitage) to understand it. Ten metres underground, at the heart of the newly renovated Caves: the Cercle des Caves de l’Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo. An ultra-private club designed for wine lovers, conceived as an experience in its own right, exclusive through and through.

During my visit, Patrice Frank, Director of the Caves, explained it to me plainly: this Cercle was born from a simple but demanding desire. To create a place for meeting, sharing knowledge and tasting, without ever distorting the deeply operational and historic soul of the Caves. Here, nothing is frozen in time, everything is alive.

The Cercle deliberately welcomes a very limited number of members, 50 at most. An induction ceremony welcomes new members. It was last June 11th that HSH Prince Albert II officially became its very first member. There’s no elitist selection process (well, a little bit, still), but a genuine curiosity for the world of wine (and an experienced palate is a sine qua non). Members come from varied backgrounds, often Monaco residents, sometimes international, all driven by the same desire: to learn, to taste, to exchange. Masterclasses twice a month, rare tastings, exclusive dinners at the heart of the Caves… every gathering is designed as a suspended moment in time.

What strikes you is the atmosphere. The reception room, beautifully renovated with great precision, isn’t just a backdrop but a genuine tool for tasting and hospitality. Lighting, an immaculate table, an almost meditative silence. Patrice Frank tells me that some members come here the way one would come to recharge. Descend into the cellar, disconnect, take your time.

The Cercle des Caves de l’Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo also offers privileged access to one of the greatest hotel wine collections in the world, exclusively reserved for the restaurants of the Monte-Carlo Societe des Bains de Mer group. A discreet luxury, without any ostentation.

As I made my way back to the surface, I thought to myself that wandering through this place is a privilege. It tells a story, many stories, from Marie Blanc to the present day. This Cercle isn’t just another club. It’s a new way of experiencing wine in Monaco – intimate, demanding and deeply human.

+377.98.06.87.95 – cercledescaveshoteldeparis@sbm.mc

More info: Le Cercle des Caves de l’Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo