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Aquilas Nest Vineyard Celebrates its Third Anniversary with Accolades!
Connecticut Magazine calls Aquila's Nest the Best Vineyard in CT
Whether you are reading the newspaper, watching TV, or scrolling through local websites like FairfieldAfterDark.com, one common theme you'll find in the news and media is the remarkable success of Neviana Zhgaba and her husband Ardian Llomi in building a local vineyard. In just three short years, this dynamic husband and wife duo has achieved outstanding recognition, being voted the Best Vineyard in Connecticut for 2023 by Connecticut Magazine.
ANV (Aquila's Nest Vineyard) is now Carbon Neutral certified and has also been honored as one of the top 70 businesses in the USA by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Every year, this dynamic couple continues to set new records. When I reached out to Neviana to acknowledge her accomplishments, she shared the following message:
""Empowered Women, Empower Women." That's the motto we stand by at Aquila's Nest. Our wines are named after women from ancient Mediterranean history and mythology, and we celebrate diverse women of science, arts, and sports all throughout the interior decor of our winery. We take pride in our continuous collaboration with numerous local women-owned businesses.
Aquila's Nest was inspired by mythological tales and our deep passion for astronomy. All nine of our wines are branded with the image of a constellation, the name of a woman drawn from an ancient Mediterranean myth, the inscription of a wise Latin phrase translated into English on the back of the label, and a unique wine cup design that weaves all these elements together.
Since our opening in October 2020, we were voted the Best Winery in Connecticut for 2023 by Connecticut Magazine, and we've achieved the following:
- We have partnered with and empowered over 80 women-owned businesses to create unique local wine, crafts, arts, and food experiences for their guests. This support has been particularly crucial during the pandemic, as women-owned businesses were among the most affected, providing them with a way to connect with their customers and introduce the vineyard to the community.
- We have hosted over 200 music performances, supporting Connecticut artists during the challenging years of the Covid pandemic. Live music performances take place year-round, with shows occurring on Thursdays through Sundays, and even more frequently during the Spring and Fall seasons.
- We have actively supported local nonprofits and charitable organizations, contributing over $50,000 in raffle certificates, donations, sponsorships, and fundraisers.
- We are proud to be climate neutral certified, having offset all carbon emissions over the past two years. Our future goal is to transition to a fully solar-powered operation.
Our vineyard has rapidly become a sought-after local tourism destination, having hosted thousands of guests, with approximately 20% of them coming from out-of-state."
We at Fairfield After Dark are immensely proud of Neviana and Ardian, having recognized their incredible talent from the very beginning. We met them just two weeks before their opening, and we knew that they would be immensely successful. What a remarkable couple!
Congratulations, Neviana and Ardian, and may your success continue to flourish!
Aquila's Nest Vineyards
56 Pole Bridge Road
Sandy Hook/ Newtown, CT 06482
(203) 518-4352






