Quinta De Sant 'Ana winery

This romantic Quinta, bordering with the Tapada de Mafra, (formerly the Portuguese King’s hunting grounds), dates back to 1633 and has been lived in by many different owners from the most varied backgrounds. One thing they shared: a fascination for this place in the rolling hills of the Saloio region, the fertile region where Lisbon’s groceries grew. They all left their footprints adding to the beauty of the Quinta. “When, over twenty-seven years ago, we took over the abandoned Quinta de Sant’Ana from Ann’s parents, every corner full of weeds and promise, we had no idea, this was to turn out to be our lifelong project. One thing is for sure: we went into a massive adventure quite blue-eyed, found our way as we went along, took shortcuts and detours and countless belly flops, but looking back, we have had a blast and learned a lot about life. We always stuck to our creeds of “use common sense” and “good people – good work”. We might have made more business profit over the years had we been less romantic and more focussed on numbers, but there was a family to be brought up, animals to care for, our village community to engage with, celebrations to be held, basically life to be lived, so we have always operated this way. We are both entrepreneurs at core. We tend to look ahead and around us, have too many creative ideas far too often, cannot sleep from excitedness over a new project. Or sometimes from worry. But when we decide to slow down, there comes another bright opportunity or struggle and more often than not we take up another challenge.” – James. INDEED, to be a father to our seven boys meant, that James was followed around the farm by a growing number of little feet from the minute they could walk. By tractor, motorbike or pony, in the vineyards or in the gardens – I have always felt that James is a picture book father full of patience and love and I am convinced this is the secret for strong roots.