2017 Vintage Sparkling White Wine
£40
Lemon and lime lead into warm brioche and a soft, creamy mousse. Seyval’s brisk acidity keeps the extra bottle age lively, making this a natural match for shellfish, fish and chips or a simple celebratory glass.
2010
Driffield
Laurel Vines began with a practical question: could this patch of family land at Aike ripen grapes in the East Yorkshire climate? Ian Sargent and an agronomist tested the ground in 2010, and the first 2,000 vines followed. Two bruising seasons brought temperatures down to -18°C, flooding and a lesson in patience before the first commercial harvest arrived in 2013. The family kept learning and planting. A purpose-built winery opened in 2016, giving Ian and the team control from freshly picked bunch to finished bottle. Still wines came first, including small red parcels matured in French oak; traditional-method fizz joined the programme later. By 2026 the vineyard had grown to 15,500 vines across 12 varieties, with Ann steering the accounts, daughter Rebekah leading sales and a growing team sharing the work in the rows and visitor spaces. It remains a wonderfully grounded place to visit. Picnics roll a winery tour into lunch among the vines, the seasonal wine bar keeps things relaxed, and the new Laurel Pantry brings brunch and cakes to the estate during the week. Solar power, native hedges, restored wildlife space and even a worm farm make the sustainability story feel practical rather than decorative.
Laurel Vines sits in the tiny hamlet of Aike between Beverley and Driffield. The Cretaceous chalk is buried beneath glacial till and clay rather than sitting at the surface, creating well-structured soils that drain freely while holding useful moisture. Fifteen thousand five hundred vines now stretch across the site, with Chardonnay and the two Pinots joined by a broad set of varieties chosen for Yorkshire conditions. The mix gives Ian Sargent options for aromatic whites, rosé, red and an emerging traditional-method sparkling range.
WINEMAKER
Owner and Head Winemaker Ian Sargent has built Laurel Vines from soil tests to a fully equipped on-site winery. Temperature-controlled tanks protect the clean fruit character of the whites and rosés, selected reds spend time in French oak, and the sparkling wines add bottle fermentation and lees ageing to the cellar’s repertoire. His style is curious and pragmatic: match the variety to the cooler Yorkshire site, keep learning, and control every stage from harvest to bottling.
The Collection
£40
Lemon and lime lead into warm brioche and a soft, creamy mousse. Seyval’s brisk acidity keeps the extra bottle age lively, making this a natural match for shellfish, fish and chips or a simple celebratory glass.
£35
Redcurrant and strawberry sit over a dry, bright palate, with a gentle mousse keeping the ripe fruit light on its feet. A cheerful Yorkshire rosé for spicy food, crisp salads or the first sunny celebration of the year.
Vineyard shop
Monday: 09:00–16:00
Tuesday: 09:00–16:00
Wednesday: 09:00–16:00
Thursday: 09:00–16:00
Friday: 09:00–16:00
Vineyard shop: Vineyard shop Monday–Friday 09:00–16:00. Laurel Pantry is normally Tuesday–Friday 10:00–14:00; check live closure dates. Picnics, wine-bar sessions and other experiences operate only on selected advertised dates and require advance booking.