Ridgefield Restaurant Earns Back-To-Back Honors From For Its Wine Program

RIDGEFIELD, CT — A Ridgefield restaurant has been recognized for the excellence of its wine program for the second year in a row.

The Benjamin, at 20 West Lane, joins more than 3,800 establishments worldwide as winners in Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards.

Award winners are from all 50 states and more than 80 countries and territories. The Benjamin was one of 33 Connecticut restaurants honored.

Awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, presented to 2,010 restaurants; the Best of Award of Excellence, presented to about 1,704 restaurants; and the Grand Award, presented to only 97 restaurants.

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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.

The Benjamin offers 140 wine selections from an inventory of 800 bottles. 2025 is the second year the restaurant has won Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence.

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The Benjamin, is helmed by local restaurateurs Rob Moss, Dave Studwell and BJ Lawless, who also who own and operate Washington Prime and BJ Ryan’s Restaurant Group in Norwalk. The trio has won several restaurant and hospitality awards over their past 20+ years in the industry, according to their website.

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