Choice Overload and Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards

Last week's discussion on choice overload in wine selection was interesting. Picking up on George's post on choice overload when facing restaurant wine lists I thought it would be interesting to research the requirements for Wine Spectator's Restaurant Awards. The requirements and criteria are listed below:

Award of Excellence
2,414 winners
These wine lists, which typically offer at least 90 selections, feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Whether compact or extensive, focused or diverse, these lists deliver sufficient choice to satisfy discerning wine lovers.

Best of Award of Excellence
1,093 winners
These wine lists display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Typically offering 350 or more selections, these restaurants are destinations for serious wine lovers, showing a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team.

Grand Award
86 winners
Our highest award, given to restaurants that show an uncompromising, passionate devotion to the quality of their wine programs. These wine lists typically feature 1,000 or more selections, and deliver serious breadth of top producers, outstanding depth in mature vintages, a selection of large-format bottles, excellent harmony with the menu, and superior presentation. These restaurants offer the highest level of wine service.

Source: Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards. http://www.winespectator.com/group/show?id=about_the_awards. Accessed February 27, 2017.

Talk about choice overload! The number and distribution of selections required for these awards are astonishing. I wonder what the value proposition is for a restaurant vying for one of these awards. Does being selected as a Grand Award winner actually drive more restaurant patronage? The cost of stocking, storing and curating a wine list of more than 1000 sections must be significant. It would be interesting to uncover the economics of the restaurants participating in this award program.