Meet our team

We’re proud of our dedicated team, commited to making a difference to the end result:

James Frost *1966    
James has strong roots in agriculture, the Frost family having been farming in the South of England for generations. Growing up in Dorset, he was born with an inherent empathy with nature and agriculture. Like his grandfather, who in his time had moved his farm from Somerset to Dorset (by train!), James was looking for new opportunities in pastures green…
On leaving school he spent seven full and exciting years in the Army, which took him to some interesting places, including France, Nepal and Iraq. In Münster, Germany, he met his wife to be, Ann von Fürstenberg. In 1992 he began his life’s work at the “Quinta de Sant’Ana”.
For James, grabbing this chance meant he could make his dream of producing his own wine come true. He devotes himself to his wine with great vision, fondness and almost fatherly affection: in the vineyard, the cellar and, above all, in the glass!

Ann Frost *1967
Ann is an adventurer by nature. Being the middle child of seven, she came to Portugal when she was little. Until the revolution in 1974, the Fürstenberg family lived here at the Quinta de Sant’Ana. Afterwards, Ann grew up in Westphalia and in a boarding school in the South of Germany.
After completing a course in pottery, she studied art in Florence, and then moved on to graphic design back in her home town of Münster. After her marriage to James, they decided to reawaken the family’s vineyard in Portugal from its slumbers, which had lain fallow for many years.
Ann and James have moved mountains together. With courage, energy and creativity Ann has built up her varied and exciting life’s work at the Quinta de Sant’Ana: being an event and party planner has given her a broad canvas to express her innovative ideas and artistic energy.
During this time she has also given birth to seven sons. With her loving way she is a source of inspiration at Quinta and is at the core of the Frost family.

António Moita Maçanita *1979
“Like father like son” – as the grandson of Colonel Armando Maçanita, and son of the chemistry professor António Luís de Andrade Maçanita, António has all the ingredients of an oenologist: discipline, courage and a taste for adventure, combined with curiosity and a passion for detail and science. It comes as no surprise that when he graduated in agriculture from the ‘Instituto Superior de Agronomia’ in 2001, he did so as one of the best in his year. He built up his experience in Napa Valley, California, in 2001 (Merryvale Vineyards and Rudd Estate); in Australia in 2003 (d’Arenberg); and, after joining the Pays-Medoc Rugby Club, in Bordeaux (Chateau Lynch-Bages). Back in Portugal he achieved his first success: António presented a wine in 2006 that claimed three gold medals in France and England.
António has regularly been invited to join the juries of the International Wine Challenge London, the Wine Masters Challenge Lisbon and the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. His wines are regular national and international prize winners. Here at Quinta de Sant’Ana he dedicates himself to producing the highest quality wines - in an area he believes to have great potential.

Marco Moura *1980
  Related to one of the most renowned Fado singers of Portugal, Ana Moura, who is well known for her excellent voice, Marco might be less comfortable with Fado, but he is in his kitchen! Born and brought up in the Algarve he spent many years practicing self defense techniques, including a form of martial art. This, plus his professional training in the Hotel School Faro, has taught him discipline, stamina and creativity, that he now applies to full extend to cooking, his other passion. Marco benefits from regular culinary sessions with Henrique Sá Pessoa, one of the Top Lisbon Chefs who performs monthly events at Quinta de Sant'Ana.

Virginha Cruz *1937
Virginia is a phenomenon. She has been working at the Quinta over half of her life. From the tender age of ten she was brought up in the household where she served as a maid. Quick and nimble, she soon impressed her employees "standing her man" working in the kitchen, the running of the big house, looking after children, animals, gardens, fields - anything! She then looked after Ann and her brothers and sisters and since then has accompanied their every move. She still comes in every day, less quick, less nimble, but her sheer presence causes a shriek of excitement from the second generation and a sigh of relief from the first – to us, she is a mother, grandmother, friend, adviser – our rock!
   
Vital Martins  *1947
Vital is a very special worker, moving steadily, thoroughly and surely. This, combined with a consistency in all weathers ensures he can outperform most youngsters.
Vital does all the tractor work. Meticulously and with the greatest attention to detail, he ensures that planting, growing, care and picking all take their rightful course at the vineyard.

Adão Ribeiro da Silva *1983
Adão brings something of the exotic with him from Brazil, where he was brought up working on the coffee plantations. He takes steadfast care of the vineyard and is of special help in the wine cellar. His good demeanor is demonstrated by a spring in his step!