What work have been you doing beforehand?
I used to be a advertising and marketing director at a big consulting firm for sixteen years.
What are you doing now?
I now personal a winery in Bordeaux.
I created a wine chateau from a parcel of vines and a dilapidated constructing.
Why did you alter?
I wished a brand new journey in my 50s.
I wished to expertise a brand new trade, be my very own boss and be taught a brand new space.
When was the second you determined to make the change?
I gave up work for 2 years to spend time with my youngest son earlier than he left dwelling for college.
I had some ‘Mum guilt’ that I hadn’t seen him as a lot as I might wished whereas he was rising up, whereas I used to be in a giant, busy job.
So I had these years with my son, and the choice was whether or not to return to company life or observe a brand new ardour.
The choice was straightforward.
How did you select your new profession?
I took benefit of the time that I needed to be taught/examine one thing I might all the time meant to spend time learning, however simply hadn’t had the time to sort out correctly.
I accomplished WSET (Wine and Spirit Training Belief) programs, and was bitten by the bug.
I made a decision to take it one step additional – why not make wine? And I then thought, ‘the place do they make nice wine?’. A pal recommended Bordeaux.
So off I set, and found the wonderful metropolis together with the fantastic, big and numerous winemaking area.
Are you pleased with the change?
Completely!!
What a wonderful journey. I’m now 60, my wines are award-winning, I’ve renovated an outdated tractor barn right into a wine tourism venue, which inside two years already gained the Better of Wine Tourism Gold Award.
What do you miss and what do not you miss?
I generally miss the truth that on the finish of the day, I don’t have anybody else (i.e. bosses) to lean on and ask for assist.
All the things stops with me, however that can also be a bonus too as a result of I am the grasp (or mistress) of all that I do – day by day, all day.
I don’t miss the facet of getting to get approval for large selections, or engaged on an intangible product.
How did you go about making the shift?
I began with wine research to get data and in addition credibility, as I used to be going to dive into a brand new trade with no earlier expertise.
I made a decision to start out small – I purchased a small parcel of vines and a really run down home which I renovated as a vacation dwelling throughout the first two years.
Alongside this, I constructed a community round me and frolicked serving to my neighbour, speaking to folks and understanding extra concerning the politics, the trade and the important thing gamers and tips on how to go about issues.
How did you develop (or switch) the talents you wanted in your new position?
Over time I’ve gathered quite a lot of abilities which have confirmed helpful.
Most just lately from my time as a advertising and marketing director and small enterprise guide I’ve enterprise and advertising and marketing abilities, in addition to budgeting and folks administration abilities.
I additionally had abilities from my research (French in addition to communications from my Masters), and from the hospitality trade after I ran a rustic inn throughout my twenties.
I evaluated all the talents I assumed I might want after which determined to purchase in the most effective I may afford the place I might recognized gaps.
This was native experience when it comes to winemaking, i.e. those that have labored the land within the space for years and know the terroir, the local weather, have the contacts for provides and many others.
What didn’t go effectively? What mistaken turns did you are taking?
I am nonetheless studying.
I’ve made some selections relating to packaging which are expensive due to my small manufacturing, however provides so much to the worth of creating a bottle of wine. I needed to label my first two vintages by hand as a result of the price of a labelling machine was manner past my attain.
I underestimated the price of all of the equipment – I nonetheless don’t have the money to spend on a forklift truck, so must borrow nonetheless.
How did you deal with your funds to make your shift attainable?
I began small.
I purchased a small parcel however in the most effective appellation (space) that I may afford, in order that the wines would instantly have the next worth than others within the area.
I then solely labored 2/3 of that land as I additionally had to purchase tools, and wished to place extra money into the highest quality I may afford with a smaller amount somewhat than make so much that may be very common.
Then in time I labored the extra third of the land as a result of I might constructed demand for my wines.
What was probably the most troublesome factor about altering?
That all the things was completely new – new trade, new area, new contacts.
I used to be an entire outsider and doing all of it as a Brit girl on her personal…
What assist did you get? 
I constructed a community regionally and reached out to assist the native appellation.
My neighbours have been an excellent assist.
I’ve had nice help in return and particularly from different girls in wine – not essentially wine manufacturing however wine tourism, wine writers and many others.
Getting the native advisor to assist with winemaking was important too – he is aware of the world and soil and climate so effectively, with data constructed up over 4 generations that I might by no means have.
What sources would you advocate to others?
Enterprise related research.
It can assist you achieve confidence, credibility and provide you with an excellent basis.
It is by no means too late to be taught a brand new topic.
What have you ever learnt within the course of?
A lot.
About wine – I now have the WSET Diploma plus many abilities of winemaking and wine tasting.
In regards to the wine enterprise normally, about sustainability on the coal face and making selections which have affect.
And importantly, what I am able to. I’ve discovered how resilient and powerful I’m to maintain going, and hold developing with new concepts to develop the enterprise with out having anybody else to lean on financially or emotionally when it comes to huge decision-making.
My grown-up sons and my mates have been wonderful however in terms of it, the buck stops with me and I’ve managed it!
What do you want you’d accomplished in a different way?
I want I might accomplished it twenty years in the past!
Though I may not have had the funds then and would have had youngsters at dwelling.
I additionally want I might purchased some white wine vines on the outset, because the turnover to money is faster and would have helped with cashflow. Purple wine takes 3+ years in complete.
What would you advise others to do in the identical state of affairs?
Do it.
Take your time, begin small and luxuriate in each second.
We caught up with Sally just lately to see how her shift was figuring out, two years on. Here is what she’s been as much as, and the largest classes she’s discovered.
What’s modified for you in your profession since we first revealed your story?
The primary change has been that I revealed a e-book about midlife change final September (Make the Midlife Transfer: A Sensible Information to Flourish after 50).
It grew to become a bestseller within the UK and France with quite a lot of media protection too.
So along with doing wine tastings and wine dinners I additionally do talks on midlife change, with or with out wine!
The affect of the e-book has been wonderful and I’m delighted that I may also help different girls in midlife to observe a serious life change.
How do you are feeling about your work now?
I nonetheless love my undertaking, the wines are getting glorious scores, and I proceed to construct my model.
However most of all, I’m nonetheless innovating, having fun with the whole autonomy of working my very own undertaking, getting an exquisite steadiness of nature within the vines and metropolis vibe by way of selling my wines.
And making the time to jot down and promote my e-book was a alternative. Having that freedom to information your individual future is such a present.
What challenges have you ever come up towards since making your shift, and the way precisely have you ever handled them?
Working a small enterprise which relies on the climate has challenges on a regular basis.
For instance final 12 months, just about all my harvest was worn out by a hailstorm in 20 minutes. So I rented a small plot from a neighbour that’s overseen by the identical technical workforce however was not hit by hail, to make sure that I had some grapes to reap.
How is the monetary facet of issues panning out, and is that this what you’d anticipated?
Wine manufacturing is hard, with over manufacturing and dropping consumption.
So I’ve centered on model constructing and my positioning as a boutique vineyard. I’ve doubled down on rising my “true fan” base who love my wines and story, and are my ambassadors.
What have you ever discovered, since making your shift?
Much like what I discussed final time, about resilience, and simply how a lot earlier profession expertise and abilities can be utilized to facilitate a brand new chapter.
I’ve additionally discovered that there are quite a lot of 50+ girls on the market who wish to make a serious change however really feel they daren’t for no matter motive. My e-book may be very a lot a sensible information to assist them.
Make the Midlife Transfer: A Sensible Information to Flourish after 50 obtainable on Amazon in paperback or on Kindle.
For extra: https://www.sallyevans.co.uk/makethemidlifemove
What classes may you are taking from Sally’s story to make use of in your individual profession change? Tell us within the feedback beneath.