Sandy Hook Restaurant Named A Top Spot For Wine Lovers

NEWTOWN, CT — One of the country's top wine magazines tallied its annual "best of the best" restaurants for oenophiles, and one Newtown dining room made the list — again.

Wine Spectator has been awarding Nouveau Monde, at 6 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook, its "Best of Award of Excellence" every year since 2020.

The award is given to the restaurants with lists of 350 or more selections from top producers, with a wide variety of regions and vintage depths. These restaurants might also carefully design the presentations of the list, train their staff to assist diners with the list and have curated wine dinners, according to Wine Spectator. Worldwide, just 1,411 restaurants received the Best of Award of Excellence award in 2023.

Overachiever Nouveau Monde makes a point of checking all the boxes. The restaurant has the largest collection of 1/2 bottles in Connecticut and over 850 selections across a broad range of styles, regions and prices, with chef's suggested pairing for the prix fixe menu, according to its website.

Nouveau Monde is no stranger to accolades: Connecticut Magazine has praised its wine selection, romantic atmosphere, and New American cuisine.

What's more, dining at Nouveau Monde is "inexpensive," in the estimation of Wine Spectator's editors.