RAISE A GLASS

It feels timely to raise a glass to women working in wine following International Women’s Day earlier this month.

Women were very much in focus when I visited Bordeaux a few weeks ago.

My first high five is to Véronique Dausse, right, general manager of Château Phélan Ségur. The château is in St Estèphe AOC, where cabernet sauvignon blends are mainly the focus. Véronique is truly dynamic and she and her team are creating a quality visitor experience within the château, then within the glass.

And then to visit inspirational Sarah Simon, left, owner of

Domaine de Saint Amand. Her objective, is to make “the best wine possible” but Sarah added: “I need time, which is the most important thing for a woman.”

Then to lunch with three fascinating women. As we sipped the wines of Basaline Despagne

(Vignobles Despagne), Sylvie Courcelle

(Château Thieuley) and Véronique Barthe (Château la Freynelle), right, the trio shared their love of Bordeaux, and within it, the region of Entredeux-mers.

Here white wines from sauvignon blanc, muscadelle and sauvignon gris shine through.

Sylvie said: “The treasure is here. We have amazing vineyards and beautiful spots to make great wines.”

And Véronique summed up a wine producer’s life: “Everything is a balance. Wine is a balance. But everything is possible in this world.”

Here’s a handful of wines from some of the women:

■ Château Thieuley Rouge, Bordeaux 2016 (£11.50, The Wine Society) – a classic Bordeaux style, and a blend of mainly merlot, with 25% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot.

■ Biface Despagne (£13.99, Waitrose) – a 50-50 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

■ Bordeaux Blanc Domaine de Saint Amand 2020 (£21.80, Callmewine) – a white with a hint of vanilla.

■ Château Phélan Ségur Saintestèphe AOC Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel 2020 (£38 in a buy six deal, Laithwaites) – a fruit-driven red with cedar notes.

I was a guest of CIVB, Bordeaux’s wine council. For more information, go to bordeaux.com/gb and follow them on Instagram @bordeauxwines