At 53, Sally Evans left a career in corporate marketing to purchase a vineyard in Bordeaux, France, embarking on a new chapter that has resulted in an award-winning boutique winery. Her journey, marked by a deliberate approach to risk and a focus on personal fulfillment, offers a glimpse into midlife reinvention.
Evans spent years as a marketing director for a large consulting company, living what she describes as a "pretty normal life" with a focus on her career and raising two sons. The shift began as the structures of her life started to change: her mother required care, and her second child was preparing to leave home. This period of transition prompted Evans to reconsider her future and what she truly desired.
Research indicates that Evans' experience is not unique. A report by RBC Wealth Management and YouGov found that 72% of Britons aged 45 to 75 feel younger than their actual age and 65% are optimistic about the future. Notably, women in this age group are more likely to view later life as empowering and full of possibility, with half enjoying new challenges and believing personal growth remains important.
Evans' first step toward this new chapter was to re-engage her mind by enrolling in a Wine & Spirit Education Trust course, a pursuit she had always wanted to undertake. As she studied, she identified core elements that brought her joy throughout her life: hospitality, teaching, meeting people, and renovation. Having previously run a pub, these interests coalesced into the idea of establishing a vineyard.
In March 2015, Evans purchased three hectares of vines and dilapidated buildings in Saillans, on Bordeaux's Right Bank. She intentionally sought a property close to Bordeaux and its airport, within a respected appellation, and with a manageable amount of land. Her approach was cautious, prioritizing financial security. She funded the purchase from shares and savings, avoiding loans and resisting pressure to acquire a larger estate.
Evans initially allowed the previous owner to continue farming the vines while she renovated the property and studied winemaking. She hired consultants for their expertise in Bordeaux winemaking, climate, and terroir, while leveraging her own background in marketing, hospitality, and business management. She noted that having a backup plan at each stage was crucial to her strategy.
Her first proper vintage in 2018 received a 91-point rating from a wine critic. By 2020, when her first bottles were released, she had secured a critic's score and a British importer. Château George 7 now exports its small-batch red and white wines internationally.
The reality of running a vineyard involves more than just the romanticized aspects. Evans describes tasks such as labeling bottles, packing orders, and collecting vine stumps. She also faces the unpredictable challenges of nature, including a recent hailstorm in June 2024 that devastated her crop and smoke from nearby wildfires. These events, she notes, underscore the relinquishing of control that differs significantly from her previous fast-paced corporate environment.
Despite the hardships, Evans emphasizes the personal satisfaction derived from constructing a life aligned with her desires. "I designed this so that I can be the mistress of my own time," she stated. "I do not want to be dancing to someone else’s tune. Everything here has to be done with fun and joy because otherwise, why am I doing this?"
At 64, Evans continues to innovate, experimenting with new wines and expanding her hospitality offerings with an outdoor dining area. She sees age not as a barrier but as an asset, akin to the aging process of good wine. Her transition from a corporate director to a Bordeaux vintner highlights a deliberate pursuit of passion and fulfillment in later life.