37 Connecticut Restaurants Honored With Wine Spectator Awards

CONNECTICUT — Thirty-seven restaurants in Connecticut have been recognized for their wine programs, joining 3,700 establishments worldwide as winners in Wine Spectator’s 2024 Restaurant Awards.

Award winners are from all 50 states and more than 75 countries and territories. Awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, presented to about 2,150 restaurants; the Best of Award of Excellence, presented to about 1,531 restaurants; and the Grand Award, presented to only four restaurants, including two California restaurants, Grasing’s in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Lazy Bear in San Francisco.

Winning restaurants from Connecticut are:

2 Hopewell Bistro, South Glastonbury, American, 125 selections

Arethusa al tavolo, Bantam, American/Farm-to-Table, 195 selections

Artisan, Southport, American, 395 selections

Artisan, West Hartford, American, 380 selections

Barcelona Wine Bar, Fairfield, Spanish/Tapas, 515 selections

Barcelona Wine Bar, Norwalk, Spanish/Tapas, 515 selections

Barcelona Wine Bar, Stamford, Spanish/Tapas, 515 selections

Barcelona Wine Bar, New Haven, Spanish/Tapas, 525 selections

Barcelona Wine Bar, West Hartford, Spanish/Tapas, 505 selections

The Benjamin, Ridgefield, American/French, 140 selections

The Capital Grille, Hartford, American/Steakhouse, 375 selections

The Capital Grille, Stamford, American/Steakhouse, 350 selections

David Burke Prime Steakhouse, Ledyard, American/Steakhouse, 750 selections

Encore by Goodfellas, New Haven, Italian/Steakhouse, 500 selections

The Essex, Old Saybrook, American/French, 100 selections

Fife 'N Drum Restaurant & Inn, Kent, American/Regional, 900 selections

Gabriele's Italian Steakhouse, Westport, Italian/Steakhouse, 170 selections

The Griswold Inn Wine Bar, Essex, American/Small Plates, 120 selections

Josie & Tony's, Norwalk, Italian, 450 selections

Kensington's, Norwich, American/Regional, 545 selections

L'Escale Restaurant, Greenwich, French/Mediterranean, 800 selections

La Foresta Restaurant & Wine Bar, Killingworth, Italian, 1,240 selections

Max Downtown, Hartford, American, 350 selections

Nouveau Monde, Sandy Hook, American/Seasonal, 850 selections

The Restaurant At Rowayton Seafood, Rowayton, American/Regional, 370 selections

Ruth's Chris Steak House, Newington, Steakhouse, 220 selection

Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, New Haven, Seafood/Steakhouse, 220 selections

The Shipwright's Daughter, Mystic, American/Regional, 125 selections

The Tap Room, Washington, Seasonal/Steakhouse, 485 selections

Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse, Stamford, Brazilian, 190 selections

Tony's at the J House, Riverside, Italian/Steakhouse, 505 selections

Union Kitchen, West Hartford, American, 240 selections

Viron Rondo Osteria, Cheshire, Italian/Mediterranean, 115 selections

Vyne Restaurant & Bar, Middlebury, American/Mediterranean, 280 selections

Washington Prime, Norwalk, American/Steakhouse, 345 selections

Winvian Farm Restaurant, Morris, American, 340 selections

ZINC New Haven, New Haven, American, 185 selections

Wine Spectator said the Award of Excellence winners generally have a wine list of at least 100 vintages, while the Best of Award of Excellence winners generally have at least 350 selections. The Grand Award winners have 1,000 or more selections, presenting diners with a depth of vintages from some of the world’s most acclaimed winemakers.