While everyone has a family tree, Laura Doubleday grew up with a family grapevine.

Spending all her holidays at her father's English vineyard cultivated Laura's interest in wine and paved the way for her future career.

Laura, 22, is the latest member of staff to join the English Wine Centre at Alfriston, which was instrumental in the revival of the English wine industry.

Laura will work in the shop and help with the wine tastings and other events held at the centre.

Her father is Sky wine correspondent Martyn Doubleday, a trained viticulturist who planted Hidden Spring Vineyard near Horam in 1986.

Hidden Spring hit the headlines soon after Martyn and his partner Chris Cammell started producing their first award-winning wines in 1989. It gained a reputation as England's most exotic vineyard.

Laura said: "I spent every holiday at the vineyard helping out with all the jobs, including the annual harvest.

"It was the vineyard that triggered my interest in wine and so it was a natural career to pursue."

Laura got a part-time job at an off-licence when she was at Kingston University and then became a full-time trainee manager with Wine Rack.

When she was on a management course, she met her boyfriend, Andy Sawyer, who has since worked as a manager at Threshers.

He is now at the Hastings branch.

Keeping up another family tradition, Andy is taking over from Laura's father at the next English Wine and Regional Food Festival at Bentley Wildfowl, Halland, near Lewes, this weekend.

For the last few years, Martyn has hosted the tutored wine tastings.

This year Andy will be on the wine stage.

English Wine Centre owner Christopher Ann said: "We have always stocked Hidden Spring wines.

"Laura is certainly following in Martyn's footsteps and she is a welcome addition to the team."