I had the pleasure of joining fellow Fairfield County Mom contributors on an October evening at Aquila’s Nest Vineyards in Newtown, CT.
It was truly a wonderful experience. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the smiling Neviana Zhgaba, co-owner and brainchild of the vineyard. She welcomed us and led us to our outdoor pergola.
We sat around a warm fire, gazing out upon the beautiful landscape of the vineyard, sipping our flights of red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines. With its western exposure, we watched the sun simmer below the hills as the twinkling lights and lanterns lit our pergola.
The evening performers, The Dirt Road Pickers Duo, serenaded us throughout the night. And when it came time for a snack, The Coop Food Truck was on the premises for some tasty food.
This was not my first time enjoying an evening at Aquila’s Nest; perhaps that’s why I love this setting so much. No matter how often I visit, each time is a unique experience. I thoroughly enjoy the vineyard’s rosé and wine slushes.
The versatility of Aquila’s Nest makes it the perfect destination for any event. Each week there is a new schedule of events, food trucks, live music, and activities held at the vineyard.
From days out to nights out, date nights, family time, visiting with one friend to a group of twenty, Aquila’s can host it all, and it is pet-friendly, so don’t forget your four-legged friends.
The vineyard is open year-round, and as colder weather approaches, additional fire pits will be added and igloos constructed. Reservations can be made for indoor and outdoor seating, gazebos, and pergolas, and you can even book the Forbidden Fireplace inspired by the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
If you have yet to experience a day or night out at Aquila’s Nest, I urge you to make it part of your future plans. You will not be disappointed.
More About Aquila’s Nest
Aquila’s Nest Vineyards is an innovative, family-owned winery, tasting room, and event
venue. Aquila, Latin for “eagle,” is appropriately perched on a hilltop in Newtown,
Connecticut and is western Connecticut’s newest gathering place dedicated to inspiring
connections and communities. Situated 14 miles northeast of Danbury, the winery is 90
minutes north of New York City by car and easily accessible to travelers.
The beautiful 41-acre experience-focused winery is the brainchild of enophiles, Neviana
Zhgaba and Ardian Lomi purchased the former 200-year-old farm in 2016. Drawing
on their Mediterranean heritage, the Aquila’s Nest Vineyard experience intermingles
mythology, art, and wine to create a story that will define the guest experience from the moment you enter the driveway to the first peak of the Mediterranean statues in front
the winery entrance.
The new brushed-steel barn-like winery makes a stark, simple silhouette against the
region’s famously bucolic landscape and the mesmerizing vineyard sunsets. Rooted in
simplicity and inspired by the colors of nature, the 4,000-square-foot facility shares
production space with a 75-seat wine bar and tasting room, which opens to an outdoor
seating terrace overlooking the vineyards.
The contemporary barn integrates refurbished materials with a warm, authentic and
artistic industrial design, where a bevy of glass windows and doors allows a wash of
natural light to stream across the stained concrete floor; the room is dressed with soft
vintage lighting that accentuates the height of the barrel-vaulted ceiling. A baby grand
piano takes center stage and welcomes visitors who’ve planned a day trip to the
destination and those stopping to have a family picnic and partake in the wine tasting
experience.