This place is GREAT! Super friendly and assisting staff, beautiful grounds and MANY options as to how you want to do their place. Per my last sentence, be sure you go online and KNOW what you want to do and what you want to spend! You can 'easily' spend a lot of money here - on the other hand, if you know what you're doing you can have a nice afternoon/evening here at a reasonable cost. Again, go on the website beforehand. I can't stress this enough! Their wine is expensive as are 'some' seating options so be advised. We were actually there 3x's this spring/summer. Went to a big party under one of their large structured tents, then we had a small party under an umbrella table, and then went up again this past weekend and just sat in chairs and caught a sunset and amazing dinner from Greek Cave food truck. The food trucks (always 2) vary, but they list whose there on the website along with any entertainment (extra cost). Very annoying is the fact you can't call there! You have to text or email and their response(s) are NOT always timely! Unprofessional that you can't call and speak to someone. read more

Unfortunately, this was not a place I'd want to return to for wine. Allowing people to smoke cigars outside made the experience unpleasant, especially when you're trying to enjoy wine. The hostess station was also unnecessarily complicated and honestly felt a little crazy to navigate.Also if their is a band insidedont go inside. So unbelievable loud!!!!!! On top of that, the wine itself was not very good. Overall, between the cigar smoke, frustrating reservation system, and disappointing wine, this just isn't a place I would recommend if you're looking for a good wine experience. read more

This place is such a vibe! Definitely a lovely experience and great place to go with friends or family. I was interested in coming here for the wine flights, especially the frozen wines. They were delicious! I would so come back here just for those and the views. They also have a plethora of events throughout the week and seasons that are fun, such as craft nights and live music. I definitely recommend for a day/night out! Just to note: their wines are a bit pricey but nonetheless, delicious. Service is also good. read more

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We needed an instagrammable location with wine and snacks forma girls getaway. The location, the set up, and the views are fantastic. We came in the evening and watched the sun set. It was cozy and beautiful and just what we needed. The wines were varied. We liked the dry rose, the back noir, and the merlot. Service was a bit slow but super friendly and helpful. Would definitely go back again. read more

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Beautiful outdoor spot to have some slushy wine. Come on a day with live music or a comedian or whatever. It can get crowded. read more

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Aquila's Nest is absolutely worth a visit. We sat in one of their cozy geodesic dome igloos which makes it such a fun and relaxed experience. The wine flight did not disappoint -- we tried the red, white & a combination, all solid pours. The cheese box is necessary if you're trying the flight ( or you can bring your own food). Highly recommend booking an igloo and making a night of it! read more

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Came back for another visit on Good Friday this time. The weather was great and we got nice igloo seating for more comfort and privacy. It was so cozy. The vineyard grounds were beautiful and such a relaxing view. We got 2 bottles of the rosè and there was a pizza truck that evening so we ordered a bunch of pizza. So good!!! Our server Ava was nice too. Great evening! My hard to impress parents loved it too read more

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I saw this place on social media, and since I've been to vineyards before, I wanted to try it in the Fall. My friend and I booked an igloo (thankfully--we'll get to that). Aquila's gives a 30-minute grace period, which helped since the area gets very dark at night and the roads are narrow. I knew ahead of time there would be a lobster food truck and a live salsa band. When you arrive, you check in with the hostess, though there's no clear hostess stand since she's stationed at the end of the bar. The inside was crowded with no available seats, but we weren't there for the band anyway. Our igloo had a heater, but two would've been ideal. They recommend bringing a blanket, which I forgot, but it wasn't too cold--around the high 40s. We tried the "Sweet Wine Flight," which included Sparkling Rosé, Moscato, and white and red wine slushies. The white wine slushy was my favorite. It started raining while we were there, and everyone with fire pits cleared out, so I was extra glad we chose an igloo. They offered a cheese box, but it looked too small, so we stuck to drinks. Our server was polite and brought everything out quickly. Reservations give you two hours, and we had a great time. I like the variety of reservation options they offer. For suggestions: it would be nice to have a real charcuterie board instead of tiny cheese and veggie boxes. The indoor space could also be larger, especially for people coming for the live band, and there are no seats around the bar. Overall, though, it's a cozy spot, and I enjoyed the experience. read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Sweet Wine Flight - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

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Went to the Billy Joel tribute show on Saturday. It took place in the tasting room and was a nice sized event. Not crowded but did have a lot of people coming and going to get drinks and food. The band was good but the acoustics were not. The volume of the speakers, and the instruments was way too loud for the size of the space. My boyfriend got a wine slushy which he said was good and I had a mocktail which was good as well! We got a charcuterie box which was fine, nothing special, but way over priced for what it was. We didn't realize you could bring your own food in and when we come back we will definitely be doing that! But do be aware that no outside drinks are allowed. Not even bottled water. It has to do with something about their permits. Another note I will make is that there were a lot of drunk people. I get it, it's a winery and there's alcohol involved. But they were over serving some people as they were very obviously intoxicated and were still continuing to serve them. Someone was very sick in the hallway and all over the bathroom and didn't tell anyone. When I got up there to use the bathroom I found it and went and told one of the servers. She seemed very annoyed, which I understand as no one wants to clean that up. But we noticed several of the staff had an attitude and were not pleasant to interact with. Overall it was a good night and we will be coming back to check out other events they do! read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Charcuterie box which was $18 - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

Beautiful space, vibes, and drinks! Finally got a chance to visit this beautiful winery! We booked a fire pit for a group of 5 and had 3 rounds of frozen wine - delicious! I loved that we were able to bring our own snacks to share with our group. They also did have a food truck and live music. Service was great and our waiter was kind and attentive, asking for us if we were good or needed anything often. There was also someone coming by to make sure we had enough wood burning. We had a great girls day and I'm looking forward to visiting again soon with my family this time. read more

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I recently visited this winery with a group of about 15-20 family members for a family reunion. Several members of our family have been here before and have even held a similar reunion here in the past, but this was my first visit. Unfortunately, I left pretty disappointed with the overall experience. We paid $40 per person in advance for the indoor section with the rock & roll band. For that price, we expected there to be some sort of added experience or perk, but there really wasn't. There was no dedicated service, and we still had to wait in the same long line as the rest of the winery to purchase drinks. For a group our size, that amounted to several hundred dollars just for admission, and it was difficult to understand what exactly the additional charge was providing. The band was enjoyable, but this felt like something that could have been offered as entertainment for all winery guests rather than such a substantial additional fee. Since it was a beautiful evening, about 10 of us decided to spend some time outside. We initially sat in unoccupied Adirondack chairs and were quickly told they were reserved and that we needed to move. Fair enough -- every business is entitled to its reservation policies. However, we then moved to other open tables and were again told we couldn't sit there because they were reserved, despite there being numerous empty tables and seating areas throughout the property. What bothered us most wasn't necessarily the policy itself, but how rigid and unwelcoming the interaction felt. We were ultimately directed to an area with basic white plastic folding tables, which were dirty and sticky when we arrived. As a group of paying patrons who had already spent $40 per person simply to enter our designated area -- before purchasing any wine or food -- it was disappointing to feel as though we were being shuffled out of otherwise unused spaces. Also, the pretty picnic tables that we did initially sit at, and were told we could not, remained unoccupied the rest of the evening. Having previously lived in Northern Virginia wine country and visited many vineyards there, I'm accustomed to wineries being places where guests are encouraged to stroll around, enjoy the property, have a glass of wine, and relax. I understand reserved seating and certainly don't expect access to something another guest has specifically paid for, but the overall atmosphere here felt unnecessarily restrictive rather than hospitable. The property itself has a lot of potential and our family was genuinely looking forward to spending the evening together here. Unfortunately, between the $40 admission with very little added value, long drink lines, extremely restrictive seating, and the curt way the situation was handled, the experience felt much less welcoming than we expected -- especially for a large group of paying customers. read more

Fantastic experience at Aquila's Nest Vineyards-- would recommend as a great fall activity. We reserved one of the free tables (you can pay to reserve the cabanas/fire pit areas) and were able to get a good table with views at no issue. My friend and I did a wine tasting! They were flexible with us swapping one of the wine selections even if it wasn't on the menu (we wanted to try the slushies). Bewarned, the stairs going up to order your drinks are steep, so you'll want comfortable footwear (don't wear heels!). We were very precariously taking our wine flights up and down the steps to make sure we didn't spill any of the wine. The white wines are better than the red IMO. We also saw two birthday parties, so there is definitely a space to host if you prefer. read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

We booked a DIY Sip and Paint, "Hummingbird" paintings (for 2). When we arrived, after driving 40 minutes, there were only two of these left and were offered to a couple who arrived after we did. To their credit, we were offered a refund, but we decided to stay and accept other paintings. The s'mores snack was pretty good, but we were expecting something better than pre-packaged marshmallows and chocolate graham crackers. The best part of the visit was the guitar player. He was very talented and played a good range of songs, but he had to request the place turn down their generic piped in music. We had to request a second cup of water for our paints. The staff seemed disinterested and unprepared for the event. We had a good time, but it could have been better. read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Floral painting from Paint and Sip event - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

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What a great date spot! We got two glasses of wine and a wine flight. This spot is really nice because they allow you to bring your own food, so we brought stuff for a charcuterie board. Gorgeous views, very lively, lots of food trucks too. The wine in my opinion was on the lighter side, it is Connecticut wine so do not expect California wine. A wonderful vibe, would highly recommend for anybody visiting the area! read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Wine flight with two glasses of wine, we brought food from home to make charcuterie - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

This winery was by far my favorite one I've ever visited! I've been to several in both New Jersey and New York, but this one truly stood out, it was absolutely worth the two-hour drive.As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by a lively atmosphere and two great food trucks--I tried both the lobster and the Greek food, and they were delicious. Inside, the winery was beautifully decorated, with plenty of friendly and attentive staff. There were multiple seating areas to choose from, which made the experience even better.The wine was amazing! I sampled a flight as well as two of their frozen wine beverages, and everything I tried was excellent. I couldn't have been happier with my visit. I'll definitely be returning and have already been telling everyone about it. We're planning a big family trip there next time! read more

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We love to bring any guests we have staying with us to Aquila. Live music, good wine in flights, comfy chairs, and that view of the mountains is really a huge plus, always hawks in the air and when the weather is nice it's hard to beat. Can fit idk several hundred people without breaking a sweat. Lovely spot read more

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Beautiful vineyards. I booked a reservation online since we were planning on going on a Sunday and wasn't sure how busy it was going to be. I'm glad I did because it was packed. There was a Taylor Swift impersonator concert going on inside that was ticketed and full of families. The outside was also full, each fire pit area was full with large groups and parties. We had two Adirondack chairs facing the fire pit lawn. It was a little confusing when we arrived on where to check in but we eventually found someone to direct us where to go. We each ordered a flight. I did the sweet wine which included yummy slushies and my husband did the classic flight. We enjoyed them all. We were interested in trying Aquila's because they are dog friendly outdoors. Our little guy had fun sniffing around and watching the other dogs. As with any dog friendly space, not everyone's dogs are quiet so it can quickly start a barking chain reaction. I would like to return and maybe book an igloo with some friends, those seemed fun. The reservation was for 2 hours but we only stayed for about an hour. read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Flights - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

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This was my 2nd time at this winery. The first time I just went to check out the location. This time I went for an event. They had the Connecticut Yuletide Carolers and Santa for a ticketed price. The event was indoors as it was a very cold winter day. The carolers did such a good job and had the most adorable outfits. Santa was looking sharp in his non traditional Santa clothing. We had the sweet wine flight. They offer several different flights, wine glasses or wine bottles. They sell a few snack items and there are normally food trucks on site. They do allow you to bring food and your snacks just not outside drinks at all. I personally love when you can bring your own charcuterie boards which is what I did. This winery also has outdoor areas in summer and some igloos and heated rental areas in the winter. There is ample parking and restrooms indoors and outside. They hold different events all year long. read more

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Beautiful location, picturesque and serene. Service is great with rotating food options. Wines are "ok" for CT wines

Service is good. Ambiance is great, the view of the hills of Newtown. Food is average. If you're looking for a place to gather and have good wine and conversation, this not the place. The music they bring in is good however way too loud. We were sitting at the farthest point from the band and my noise meter read 120db. Could not hear the person across from you. Asked to turn it down and with no comply. We will not be going back there to enjoy good company. Rich W. read more

We recently had our son's college graduation party at Aquila's. The views are stunning, the service was on point and the wonderful selection of wine were perfection. The owner even stopped by to see how it was going and took a group photo for us. She was amazing!! We can't wait to go back for a girls night out!! read more

This place was ok. I didn't like any of the wines. It was very busy and disorganized. I was a little disappointed. Pretty area. Maybe it's better when it's not so busy. read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Winery in the distance - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

My husband surprised me by setting a reservation with our own private area with friends. We got wine flights that came with snacks. Brought games. Service was quick, staff was friendly and we had such a fun time. But they are strict to the rules that if you have it reserved for a certain time that's all the time you have and time flies!! the wine was so good and can't wait to come back read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Wine flight with snacks - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

Honestly, over packed craziness. Always! And dirty, too. The bar tenders are rude and have no customer service, they will ignore you forever while trying to order, then get annoyed if you ask questions. Skip it! read more

Social media makes Aquila's Nest look far more appealing than it truly is. While the staff was friendly and the Stacks food truck burgers were tasty, everything else left much to be desired. To start, the arrival experience was underwhelming. You pull into a large driveway and park next to what appears to be someone's private home, hardly the scenic welcome one would expect at a vineyard. After checking in with the hostess (we chose the free reservation option since it was our first visit), we were directed downstairs to pick any available table. Right away, the setup felt more like someone's backyard than a relaxing vineyard escape. Tables and benches were crammed close together, and the area was cluttered with mismatched, brightly colored umbrellas. There was no open space to enjoy a proper view. The vineyard itself was roped off, and our "scenic" surroundings included a parking lot to the right. The grounds were not manicured, and the ambiance was severely lacking. If you're used to the charm and elegance of vineyards in the Hamptons or even local spots like Haight-Brown or Hawk Ridge, you will likely be disappointed. What truly soured the experience, though, was the lack of atmosphere control. Despite branding itself as family-friendly, Aquila's did nothing to address a group of patrons across from us blasting hardcore rap music laced with profanity. Not only were they playing their own music, but they were also yelling along to the lyrics, and having twerking lessons, making it impossible to relax or enjoy the space, especially with our group, which included children ages 6 to 13. We ultimately had to move to another area, but it did little to salvage the mood. While the food truck was a highlight, Aquila's Nest overall felt like a missed opportunity. Between the chaotic setup, lack of scenic charm, and an environment that allowed disruptive, disrespectful behavior to go unchecked, I won't be returning. It was the most underwhelming and frankly, loud and chaotic vineyard experience I've ever had. read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Underwhelming entrance was just the start - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

Cute vineyard on the CT wine trail. Tasting room was quaint and I loved the igloo Tents. I went on a Saturday afternoon they have a greek food truck outside and a live band. The wine was good but not great. I tried the red blend varietal. I lived in California so I'm a little picky when it comes to wine. Nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon. read more

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I attended a business networking event in the late afternoon in August. The weather really cooperated and it was quite comfortable to enjoy the late afternoon with friends. there are many options for seating both inside and outside so bring your friends. There are many choices for tasting the wines and other drinks including mocktails soda and waters. They also offer grazing boxes and a food truck for more substantial food items. The staff are also very friendly and helpful. read more

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good - red and sweet wine flight - smoke fire food truck not so good - the lady at the reservation desk - their reservation system let me elaborate. last saturday was a really nice day and on a whim, we decided to come here. arrived around lunch time and the place was busy-ish. we didn't make reservations because i didn't know it was needed. asked the lady at them front to see if there were any tables available and she said everything was reserved. so i asked what if the ppl don't show up for their reservations? she just looked at me... she suggested sitting on the lawn if we have blankets or chairs (which we didn't). my mom waited inside and one of the groups was leaving and said we can sit at their table which still had time left (thank you kind strangers). we just ate, drank and left. so the entire time that we were there, which was probably 45 minutes max, there were empty reserved tables that were never used. ppl never showed up for their reservations. some ppl who lined up for tables were told that no tables were available that day because everything was supposedly reserved (indoor and outdoor). we walked down to the open lawn and saw a lot of empty tables not being utilized. im not sure how long is the grace period for table reservations but if the party is not there, why hold the table and not give it to walk ins? you're basically turning business away. read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

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We drove from Queens and there was an extra hour of traffic passing through Westchester on a Saturday afternoon. There's parking and the vineyard is nice. People were there for celebrations. Some of the staff didn't seem happy to be there, which I don't blame them anyway. Bathroom line could be long as there were just 2, and I think I saw outside porto potties. The staff is regularly going in to make sure the inside bathrooms are clean. I got the sweet wine flight which included the wine slushes. I enjoyed the white slushie with passion fruit the most. You pay with card. They also have food trucks on the grounds, and it was good but pricy. One of the food trucks was also overwhelmed practically working by himself so it can take awhile. You get the space for 2.5 hours and then staff come around to politely urge you to leave for incoming customers. Be careful walking the drinks to the outdoor tables. They should change the door to be automatic because people often have their hands full and don't want to spill. Also the umbrellas spin at the outdoor tables, which can change the shade on a hot day. I wish they stayed in place. We took turns holding it in place. Lastly, they have events and there was a band playing that day. read more

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Great service, vibe and location is beautiful. We went on a Friday and there was live music to accompany the wine and view. I was not expecting to have such a great time. read more

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First time coming here. White wine flight with a mixed raspberry merlot and white wine slushy. Atmosphere was beautiful and relaxing BUT... ***Upon sitting down at an empty fire pit on the grass, we were told we needed a reservation for this specific area, which was "booked months in advanced" as told by a server ($50). The smoke was unfavorable and there was no way of getting away from it. Considering you need a reservation ($50-100) to enjoy what most vineyards give for free, this was quite laughable. You couldn't hear yourself think while inside making a purchase and a server was screaming orders as there is no sound barriers to muffle loud, drunk customers. The wine was decent. The overall experience was mediocre. When deciding on a bottle of wine, one of the hosts thought it would be a good idea to count tips and text when all we wanted was to make a purchase and leave.... High hopes before coming here, but will not be back read more

This is a beautiful vineyard! There is a lot of both indoor and outdoor seatings. The outdoor seating has reserve areas where there are fire pits set up. There are food trucks on the vineyard for food service if you want some food to munch on. A large selection of wine and slushy drinks. Highly recommended! read more

Really enjoyed my experience at Aquilas! First, the views are stunning. Highly recommend going for sunset on a clear night - you won't get a better view than at this spot. There are a variety of seating options. Some are free and others are for pre paid reservations. There was an event going on inside, a food truck all night and they allow outside food. The staff was so kind, accommodating and gave great ideas for flights. There are pre selected flights but they let you mix and match! Definitely recommend checking it out. read more

Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

5 stars for vibes and gorgeous location. Came here last summer and enjoyed the gorgeous views and wine flights in their beautiful property enjoying some sun, wine, snacks and even nutella crepe! That alone was to win me over. We're back again but now during the colder end of winter/spring time, and I have to say, I was very impressed. This time, we came with a big group of friends and sat inside on a Sunday afternoon, enjoying some live music, wine, games and a good time. The best part? You can bring ANY outside food you want with your favorite snacks, chips, cheese, whatever you want. I absolutely love this and they're so chill about it. During the colder months you can reserve their outdoor igloos and the fireplace area which looks pretty awesome. Is it the best wine I've ever had? Absolutely not but the place is definitely worth it especially for a relaxing time with a group of friends or just as a date night idea. The staff is very chill and not pushy at all. You can order directly from the counter and leave your tab open or they come to you and you can do the same. Overall great experience especially being able to have the option to bring your own things and not have to worry about your dietary needs. They always have a food truck available too, just make sure to check out their website to see what food truck will be there. read more

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They have a variety of Wines even slushy Wines. They have special events like cheesecake parings. It's a good atmosphere with both inside and outside seating. They have a food truck outside and long lines by noon. read more

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We spent the weekend in Southern CT a few weeks back and and had Igloo reservations here at Aquila's Nest! The igloo atmosphere was fun and private. We each started with a Sweet Wine Flight that consisted of Chocolate Mulled Wine, Moscato, Sangria and a Slushie! They were all really great! We enjoyed our flights along with one of their Graze Cheese Boxes that included Artisanal Cheeses with a local Jam, Green Olives, Grapes, Strawberries, Blackberries Dried Apricots & Crackers. We then sat back and enjoyed the ambience while enjoying a glass of Moscato. read more

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Yesterday evening was my first time checking out Aquila's Nest Vineyard. It's pretty close off the highway and easy to get to. The location of the vineyard is pretty elevated where you get beautiful sunsets. Yesterday unfortunately there wasn't much of one . But there are many seating options outside. Some close to the fire pit , others in the igloo that you can reserve and the other seating areas are further out in the field. Music is playing and the food truck is parked waiting for you! . The inside isn't as big but a decent size. Full Of art on the wall. Love how it's decorated! Yesterday I was there for an event, Mardi Gras Murder Mystery and what a fun night it was!! Full Of laughter , people who did an awesome job acting , great costumes! Wonderful! Everything was very well organized whether it was at the bar or ordering food or with the Acting crew. The wine.. delicious. I love sweet wines so I tried the flight and they were a great sampler . Went down nice and smooth. Also, snack boxes are sold which is nice if you forgot to bring something , don't want anything from the food truck or want something light to snack on. I can't wait to come back when the weather is beautiful and enjoy the outdoors ! read more

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The hostess today was miserable and unwelcoming. Had we not just driven for an hour to make our first visit there we would have gone elsewhere. Awkward set up on a huge property. Not clear instructions on how to order but the hostess made sure to express her displeasure of our lack of reservations for two people and what our time limit was. There were mostly empty tables. The indoor area was chaotic and crowded with no clear organization outside the bingo going on. The person translating the orders from computer to post it to those pouring the wine made multiple mistakes, had to prove it with my receipt thankfully I had. The cheese box was overpriced and underwhelming. The food trucks overpriced too. Wouldn't go out of my way to go back but would go if others made the plans to go there. read more

I can buy myself flowers, and drink wine with my friendssssssssssss. In all seriousness, Aquila's Nest has been on my bucket list since they opened up back in 2020. I'm an avid CT wine trailer usually, and have been to almost every single one in the state multiple times. That being said, I was super eager to come and sit in one of the igloos with some other ladies the other day to sip and relax and have a fun girls day out. Each of us got a wine flight and cheese box, and if you love sweet wine I'd def recommend getting the sweet flight. The wine slush was my favorite of them all and I was impressed with the red wine that came on the flight. I'm typically not a fan of red but this one was almost like alcoholic grape juice in terms of flavor. Many wines in CT taste more on the acidic side to me because of the soil, but that's not the case here. All of them were very pleasant and paired beautifully with the snack options that came with the flight and some cupcakes our friend brought with her as well. We all had a wonderful time and I can't wait to come back again for another girls day adventure. read more

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We had a Family Celebration for 60 guests last week at Aquila's Nest and had a fantastic experience. Sarah and her team took care of everything and all we had to do was enjoy ourselves. The wine selection was wonderful and the location is so beautiful. The weather and ambience were perfect and all our guests had such a memorable evening. We can't wait to go back! read more