When Neviana Zhgaba, who owns Aquila’s Nest Vineyards in Newtown with her husband Ardian Llomi, was first contacted for this story, she couldn’t talk because she was touring Spain’s oldest winery.
Every year Zhgaba and Llomi go on a wine trip to Europe looking for inspiration for their Connecticut winery and because, well, they just love wine. Both hail from Albania and were raised in a Mediterranean culture steeped in the fruit of the vine.
“You grow up looking at your parents, your neighbors, your friends’ families, harvesting grapes and making their own wine,” says Zhgaba. Families would then make grappa, a distilled spirit made from leftover juice produced during the winemaking process. She adds each harvest is “a fun time, especially if you’re in the villages of Albania.”
This European wine-making spirit is something Zhgaba and Llomi have brought to Connecticut with Aquila’s Nest, an enchanting vineyard featuring wines served with sweeping views of rolling hills, sunsets, and the night sky.
“We wanted to have a European-inspired winery with modern vibes and a focus on sustainability and the experience of tasting wine,” Zhgaba says.
At the winery, you’ll find wine flights served alongside sustainably sourced crackers, nuts, and chocolates. Visitors can also order cheese boxes and boxes of vegetables and hummus. For those looking for heartier fare, rotating food trucks are generally on-site.
In keeping with European traditions, the emphasis is on drier wines. For instance, the Queen of Illyria Red Blend is a full-bodied dry wine made from Syrah and Malbec grapes and is one of the vineyard’s flagships. For those looking for something a little sweeter, there are also plenty of options including the vineyard’s semi-sweet rosé, which has notes of raspberries. The Siren Moscato is another favorite. Aquila’s also offers slushies and sangria.
“We wanted a house for our family because we just had our second son,” Zhgaba says. “My husband grew up in the countryside of Albania so he wanted to find a plot, maybe plant some trees and have a little farm. Then we found this 40-acre property Newtown.”
They first visited the property in the fall and the Connecticut’s foliage was in full effect. “The views were stunning. The sunset was amazing, and we just fell in love with it,” Zhgaba recalls. They decided they needed to share the property with others.
The vineyard opened during the pandemic on Halloween weekend in 2020. Despite the restrictions at that time, it quickly became popular.
“We created this patio area with various experiences like fire pits and igloos, a romantic pergola and then a private fireplace space,” she says. Whether you go in the warmer months or when it’s chillier, these spaces continue to be a highlight of the experience and along with sculptures and other unique design touches, they help the vineyard cast its spell. As does the live music that is featured Thursday through Sunday in the spring through fall.
Despite their love for and connection with traditional European wine methods, Zhgaba and Llomi are also dedicated to running a modern business. The vineyard was named one of the top 70 small businesses in the U.S. by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce last year and is committed to supporting sustainable vineyard practices.
“We’ve been climate-neutral certified the past two years,” Zhgaba says. “We measure our carbon footprint and offset it in various ways,” she says. “It is important to us.” •
