Ridgefield Restaurant Honored With Wine Spectator Award

RIDGEFIELD, CT — A Ridgefield restaurant has been recognized for the excellence of its wine program.

The Benjamin, at 20 West Lane, joins 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. The Benjamin was one of 37 Connecticut restaurants honored.

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.

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. 2024 is the first year the restaurant has won Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence.