We've been friends for over 20 years - here's why we decided to take a risk and create a vineyard in Leeds

Without being too cliché, Knotfield Vines is ageing like a fine wine.

The Rawdon business was founded by best friends Sophie Ellis and Laura Tillotson in 2022 on a mission to bring world-class wine closer to home.

In just a few years, their traditional-method English sparkling wine has received widespread critical acclaim, including two silver medals from WineGB.

Now Knotfield Vines opening their two-acre vineyard to tours and preparing to supply wines to one of Leeds’ most popular independent restaurants.

For Sophie and Laura, the recipe to success has been their firm friendship which has lasted over 20 years.

“Sophie and I are both fairly level-headed people and I think we're both problem solvers but the key thing is the shared goal. We've both got the same vision for the business,” Laura told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“We’re fairly opposite, which is a good thing because it means we can cover more bases between us. Because we've lived together, I think we understand each other on a level that a lot of friends don't.”

Sophie added: “You couldn't do this with somebody who wasn't equally driven to make it a success.

“When something's knocked us sideways or not landed the way we wanted it to, you need the right kind of person who is motivated to make it the best it can be, and there is no one more hardworking than Laura.”

Sophie inherited the land that would become Knotfield Vines 11 years ago when her father passed away.

It’s an area she initially didn’t know what to do with until she made a chance discovery online.

“I was sat having a glass of wine in the field scrolling through my phone and I came across an article which talked about how the English wine industry was the fastest growing industry in the UK, which felt exciting. It felt like a bit of a moment.”

Impulsively, she reached out to winemakers across the UK who convinced her that her idea to create a vineyard wasn’t “silly” in the slightest.

In fact, fellow vineyard owner Martin Vickers, who has been in the industry for over 40 years, visited the land to help Sophie figure out what was possible.

The next step was to get best friend Laura on board, who luckily instantly said yes to the idea.

Laura said: “We both had the exact same feeling that it was the right thing to do. There was no kind of real question about whether we should or shouldn't do it together.

“It felt like the stars had aligned.”

Knotfield Vines wines are made out of Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir Precoce, two grape varieties that thrive in the typically cool English climate.

Sophie and Laura are particularly proud that their vineyard is Yorkshire-based and stands alongside the “fantastic” food and drink businesses in this region.

Now, Knotfield Vines is set to provide the first English wine to be served at Bavette, an award-winning restaurant named in the Michelin Guide 2026.

Sophie said: “Bavette is our local restaurant and they're phenomenal.

“Clément and Sandy have just created something super special. We’re delighted they’re so supportive of us.”

Alongside supplying their wine to Bavette, Knotfield Vines is set to run tours of the vineyard throughout the summer, offering guests the chance to see the vineyard and taste some beautiful wine along the way.

They advise that August is the best month to take advantage of this opportunity as it’s the most “beautiful” time of the year to see the vineyard.

Knotfield Vines is a business Sophie and Laura balance alongside their full-time jobs and it’s a passion project fuelled by their enthusiasm for high-quality wine.

The wines they produce vary each year depending on the weather.

This may sound unpredictable but it makes Knotfield Vines an ever-evolving and ever-exciting adventure.

Sophie said: “Last year was beautifully warm and hot and so the wine that we will have next year because it takes two years will really represent that. I imagine it'll be really really jammy and fruit-forward. It's always exciting that you can literally see the season that it's grown in.

Laura said: “We love that every year is different so there’s always an opportunity to learn something new.

“Sophie and I are both really keen to improve our knowledge and our skills and we've got the opportunity every year to learn new things - what an amazing job is that?”