Sally Evans, UK

After a roughly 25-year corporate career in France,

Sally Evans embraced a bold midlife transformation,

leaving behind the consulting world to pursue her

passion for wine. In 2015, she founded Château George

7 in the Fronsac appellation on the Right Bank. She

acquired a parcel of 35-year-old Merlot vines and

transformed a dilapidated property into a thriving

winery and tourism destination. Nestled in the village

of Saillans, her 3ha boutique winery produces

outstanding wines, showcasing the unique character

of Fronsac’s clay and limestone soils.

At first, Sally says, no one took her seriously, seeing

her as a crazy British woman spending her money, but

her passion changed people’s minds. ‘I am small, but I

make a lot of noise,’ she declares with a cunning smile.

Beyond winemaking, Sally is an accredited tutor with

the Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux and a passionate

advocate for wine tourism. She has created immersive

experiences, from vineyard tours to apéros on her sunlit

terrace, blending her love of hospitality with her

expertise in wine. At 63, she isn’t ready to retire.

‘George 7 is not the end of my story,’ says Sally, who’s

intent on selling the property one day and moving on

to another adventure.