Are we slipping into fall already? For some this is the best time of year, when summer’s heat lingers just long enough to bring a golden glow to the days, but winter’s chill comes calling at night. Here in the Hudson Valley, September (and October) are harvest season, and that means apples and pumpkins. It means corn mazes and hayrides. Fresh-pressed apple cider and cider donuts. And pies.
We are blessed to have many wonderful farms to choose from to take part in these simple but profound pleasures. One of them is Goold, a 90-acre property in Castleton, NY, that has been farmed for over 100 years. That’s generations of people coming to enjoy the bounty and the beauty of this farm.
And here’s some wonderful news: The farm is getting a big dose of TLC to take it into its next 100 years. That’s no small feat, and its new owners are taking it seriously.
Open again
Knowing their goal was to be open for apple picking, cider, cider donuts, pies, and a preliminary tasting room by the time this issue of Main Street Magazine is released, I wanted to catch up with Neviana Zhgaba and Ardian Llomi to talk about how they’re working to make this happen.
There’s an important nod to the past in the farm’s name, which is now Goold Hill Estate. It was chosen “to honor the history of this farm, which has been a part of the community since 1910, and comes with the blessing of Sue Goold and the Goold family, whose legacy continues to be woven into the land and its future.”
In fact, when I arrived at the farm to meet with Neviana, Sue Goold was part of the welcoming committee! As was Goold Hill Estate’s general manager, Ashley Hanson. Ashley, Sue, and Neviana were ticking off boxes on what was clearly an extensive to-do list, but their enthusiasm for the tasks was evident. There were big smiles all around.
A deep love of the land
For Neviana, Ardian, and their family, Goold Hill Estate is a place “rooted in the land and inspired by its rich farming tradition,” which also “represents our commitment to preserving what makes this property special while thoughtfully stewarding it into the future.”
It’s clear that Neviana and Ardian share a deep love of the land and the property. Their family home is two hours away, in Newtown, CT where they established and operate the award-winning Aquila’s Nest Vineyards. To take on this farm too, it had to be even more than love at first sight for them – it was and is a vision for what’s possible not just for the land, but also for everyone who visits.
“I am most excited about making this a vibrant place where people want to be for the beauty and the bounty,” Neviana says. “I was born in the countryside in Albania,” she shares, “and I understand a commitment to agriculture. For me,” she says, “being outside and working on a farm was always a fun family time.”
She and Ardian know how special the property is. “People have been coming here for decades,” she acknowledges, adding, “It’s a lot of responsibility to honor that. And it is nice to bring in a new era.” She is grateful for Sue’s knowledge of apples and the extensive orchard on the farm. I asked Sue if this spring’s low temperatures set the orchards back, and she was quick to reply with relief and pleasure that while she suspected it might have, “I’ve been keeping an eye on them, and the trees are loaded with apples.” Great news, of course, and a kind of sign, if you want to think of it that way, that the TLC going in will be expressed in what’s coming out.
Whence they came
To understand what Neviana and Ardian envision for Goold Hill Estate, it helps to look at what they’ve already accomplished.
In 2016, they purchased a 200-year-old, 41-acre farm in Newtown, CT. At the time, it had no vines, no tasting room, and no infrastructure. Within a few short years, they transformed it into Aquila’s Nest Vineyards – now one of Connecticut’s top agritourism destinations, celebrated for its wines, cultural programming, sustainable farming practices, and visitor experiences.
It’s not surprising to learn that in addition to their love of land and farming, Neviana and Ardian are engineers – she is a software engineer, and he’s a mechanical engineer. It may be cliché to say that engineers are planners, but in their case it seems to play out in full force.
Every detail of Aquila’s Nest was thought through to maximize their vision.
Aquila is the Latin word for eagle. Albania is often called “the land of the eagles,” and the majestic bird is on the Albanian flag. A nest, of course, is a primal home and gathering space.
Aquila has a mythological meaning, as well. As told in Homer’s tale, The Iliad, Aquila is the eagle who carries the Greek god Zeus’s thunderbolts, and who brought Ganymede to Olympus to serve as Zeus’s cupbearer. Later, Zeus put Ganymede in the sky as the constellation Aquarius, protected by the wing of the Aquila constellation.
For Neviana and Ardian, Aquila’s Nest was meant – destined – to be a place where the land and the wine inspired connection and conversation. Neviana wanted labels for the wines that celebrated women as constellations, archetypes, and mythic figures, each one “nesting” within the broader story of feminine strength, creativity, and resilience.
The ideas resonated with people immediately, and the winery has received many top awards and distinctions, including being named a 2026 USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Winner, ranked at number five for Best Wine Tasting Room! Connecticut Magazine awarded it Best Winery in Connecticut in 2025 and 2026. (Learn more about Aquila’s Nest at aquilasnestvineyards.com.)
For now and for later
Clearly, Neviana and Ardian do not hold back. If they commit to bringing everything that’s possible for Goold – from its past success to its potential for even greater enjoyment – then it’s going to happen. In fact, it is happening.
Case in point: This spring, they planted 7,500 grape vines. Not 500. Not 2,500. 7,500. Twelve acres of grapevines. This is so Goold Hill Estate can offer a range of estate wines, which are all part of the big picture. What did they plant? They understand that hybrids are desirable not only for the quality of the fruit they produce but also because they are best adapted to the environment and can therefore be grown more sustainably. They also know what New York wineries have become known for. They’ve planted Cayuga White, Valvin Muscat, Riesling, Steuben, and Corot Noir. Nice!
They are also investing in the building that generations have known as the farm store at Goold. It’s being made over to reflect Neviana’s vision of “rustic contemporary.” It will include plenty of room to explore the farm store’s offerings, and it will have lots of seating for tastings and enjoying events like live music, all of which is in the works.
When Neviana walked with me up past where the farm store is being renovated to the crest of a westward-facing hill with a view of the newly planted vineyard on the right, she explained that another building is planned for this spot. “People love sunsets, and this is where they will be able to see them, with the Catskill Mountains in the distance.”
A place you want to be
Neviana is resolute in her vision for Goold Hill Estate. “I want this to be a vibrant place,” she shares. “I envision gatherings of all kinds; people happy to be here and to be part of this journey. Now and for the future, it’s a journey of becoming.” That will be reflected in the names and labels for the wines, which will be associated with different winds.
Ardian is equally passionate. “For me,” he says, “stewardship is about leaving the land better than we found it. Every decision we make – from restoring the orchard and planting the vineyard to renovating the buildings – is guided by respect for the generations who cared for this property before us and a commitment to creating something that future generations will enjoy. We want Goold Hill Estate to be a place where agriculture, craftsmanship, and community come together in a way that feels authentic and lasting.”
Goold Hill Estate had its soft opening for the public on Friday, August 14, and is now officially open. They’ve already lined up live music and other special events. And don’t forget the apples! And do say hi and congratulations to all there who have worked so hard to breathe new life into this beautiful farm. •
Welcome to the journey of Goold Hill Estate, where the past is honored to usher in the future. And where you’ll find all kinds of deliciousness all times of the year. Stay in touch online through Facebook and Instagram (@gooldhillestate). Visit the website at gooldhillestate.com. Best of all, visit. The address is 1297 Brookview Station Rd, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY.
