Laure de Lambert Compeyrot is the owner and Director of Château Sigalas Rabaud, 1er Grand Cru Classé de Sauternes. If you are a regular reader, you will recognise her wines from previous blog posts. As she launches a zero-alcohol version of her wine, I chat to her about her vision of wine and wellness.

Laure will be co-hosting our wine and wellbeing weekend with me in October at her beautiful property. Join us.

Meet Laure

Could you introduce yourself and your role in the wine industry, please?

I am the sixth generation of the family at the helm of this property, which has been in the family since 1863. Today I manage the development of the domain; everything related to wine from branding strategy to wine tourism, including opening the château to guests.

I am also the president of La Route des Vins de Bordeaux en Graves et Sauternes, and more recently a municipal councilor for Bordeaux, overseeing links between the city and the wine business, as well as the promotion of wine.

What brought you to the wine business?

My career started in the world of art and culture. I worked at the Louvre des Antiquaires, then in publishing, before finally creating a logistics company with a friend. My family wine roots eventually caught up with me, and today I have the privilege of being 100% invested in Château Sigalas Rabaud as CEO.

What do you love most about the wine business?

It’s an industry where we speak about the weather as often as international strategy; every day is different. It’s challenging and dynamic, but also an industry where personal contact remains so important.

What does the concept of wellness mean to you?

Wellness, or wellbeing, is about finding balance between pleasure, energy, work, sleep and sometimes a delicious butter sauce!

It’s being able to succeed whilst listening to yourself and to the people around you.

If it’s not indiscreet, how many times do you drink each week and do you limit yourself to a certain quantity of alcohol?

I taste a lot in my line of work, but when I drink it’s with a meal, with friends and family. For me, wine is profoundly linked to conviviality, gastronomy and sharing.

I don’t live with restriction; it’s about equilibrium. There are periods when I drink more through professional obligations, especially for tastings and wine fairs, and other times when I naturally drink less.

Has your attitude towards drinking and wellness changed over the years?

Yes, my vision has evolved over the years. I believe you can be passionate about wine whilst also having awareness and freedom about what and why you drink. It’s precisely this idea that led me to become curious about high-quality non-alcoholic wine: to offer other ways to share, not by opposing different worlds but by bringing them together to enrich the possibilities available to wine lovers.

Are there foods you consciously include or foods you avoid in your diet? If so, what and why?

I don’t follow a diet nor abide by strict rules. I love to cook, eat a balanced diet and share great food. In the family, we have always prioritised local produce, vegetables and fruit, either simply prepared or more sophisticated for special occasions. It’s rare for us to eat pre-prepared food.

Do you take any supplements? Which ones?

I’m not interested in ‘magic powders’ or supplements; I never take them! I believe in common sense, quality products and an excellent foie gras with a glass of Sauternes.

Do you exercise?

Yes, I do, either in a gym in Bordeaux or on a treadmill first thing before breakfast. At the château I’m always walking in the vines, at least 7,000 steps a day!

What are your biggest challenges to staying fit and healthy in your job? How do you overcome them?

In this business there are lots of temptations, the challenge is to resist excess becoming a habit. When I feel I’ve enjoyed myself a little too much, I pay attention – until the next dinner!

Do you set yourself goals, and do they help in your aim to stay well?

Yes, I like having an objective: a pair of jeans I want to be able to wear and a number on the scales I’d rather not reach!

Does the fact you are a woman help, or is it a hindrance in this business, or is it now irrelevant? If so, how would you pinpoint the changes?

Things have evolved enormously, thank goodness. More women have now found their place and feel confident expressing themselves, innovating and sharing their vision. For a longtime the wine world was a very masculine environment. Some of these habits and reflexes still exist today, with women still under-represented at some levels of management. Often it takes a photo of a meeting to make you realise women are missing. Where’s Charlie? 😉 But it is so much better than 20 years ago.

Do you feel there are different expectations in drinking culture for women compared to male colleagues?

Yes, and studies show this is the case.

Have you seen an evolution in attitudes in the business towards drinking in general?

Yes – especially in France.

Does it affect business socialising?

Yes it does.

How do you cope with wellness pressures when you travel, for business and pleasure?

When I travel, I try to keep things simple and balanced (that word again): sleep well, avoid escalators in airports, walk and take the stairs rather than the lift.

My trips are often synonymous with tastings, restaurants and a frenetic rhythm. After a few days of wine fairs and business trips, a bowl of soup, a long walk and a good night’s sleep feel like a luxury … and an obligation!

If you had just one or two top tips for women in wine wanting to stay well, what would they be?

Take time to reflect, meditate or stay calm in order to reconnect with yourself and with others. Stay true to yourself. If you’re in the right place, it’s because you’re meant to be there. Don’t take on others’ opinions if they are not your own. We are not obliged to accept the codes of men, or of other women, who have gone before us.

Is there anything else you would like to share about women in the drinks business or about wine and health?

Go for it – it’s exciting. It’s a demanding universe but one that is rich in human relationships. I believe that wine, when linked to gastronomy, sharing, conviviality and moderation, is an art de vivre, both culture and pleasure.

And keep enjoying wine! My father is 95 years old and has enjoyed wine daily since he was seven. 

Join us

If you’d like to meet Laure, discover her wines and beautiful property, please join us at Château Sigalas Rabaud, from 2 – 5 October 2026. There will be insider visits, exceptional wines and relaxed yoga. You’ll meet more women who inspire me, taste some of my favourite Bordeaux and discover how to enjoy them without compromising your health.

If you want to know more about what’s going on behind the scenes in Bordeaux do sign up here to be sure not to miss future blog posts. 

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