RMAFP “The Infinite Monkey Theorem” Field Trip/Networking Event

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 from 3:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

3:00-3:15 p.m.:  Arrival at 3200 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80205 ·

3:20-4:20 p.m.: Opening Remarks, Tour and Presentation

4:30-5:30 p.m.: Networking and Food

In the next in our long line of Field Trip/Networking events, you will experience a tour, networking and a great presentation for the afternoon.  Hopefully a little laughter too!

Session Title & Description:

“A Case Study on a Unique Wine Making Business”  

-Wine Industry Overview

-Starting the Business, Brand Evolution

-How The Infinite Monkey Theorem differentiates itself….

Presenter(s) Bio:

BEN PARSONS: WINEMAKER, MAD SCIENTIST, FOUNDER OF

THE INFINITE MONKEY THEOREM

European Origin

Originally hailing from Kent in Southern England, Ben Parsons’ first experience in the wine industry was as a young graduate salesman for Laytons Wine Merchants in London, “selling Bordeaux and Burgundy wines for silly prices to silly people.” From Laytons, Ben moved to Fuller’s, a smaller wine merchant better known for its West London brewery and London Pride beer.

Australia Sojourn

Meanwhile, Ben was trying desperately to secure funding to study in Australia. He won a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship to cover tuition, by competing against 500 other hopefuls in a public debate. In July 2000, Ben moved to South Australia to complete a Graduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Adelaide. He graduated in 2001, at the top of his class.

While surprised to learn that a wine industry existed at all in Colorado, he applied to and was offered a winemaking position at Canyon Wind Cellars in Palisade, Colo., where he served as winemaker until 2005. At the same time, Ben also established a successful wine consulting business that helped many of Colorado’s emerging wineries and growers. In 2005, Ben moved to Southern Colorado to work with Sutcliffe Vineyards, for which he’d consulted previously, transforming the winery from a 400-case to 3000-case operation.

Back Alley Winemaking

In 2007, Ben’s father passed away following a battle with colon cancer. To honor their shared dream of starting a winery, Ben wasted little time in hatching a plan to build Colorado’s first urban winery. He spent the summer of 2008 driving almost 25,000 miles across the country, buying used wine equipment that he housed in a rented World War II-era Quonset hut in an alley of Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe.

By founding The Infinite Monkey Theorem, Ben set out to dispel elitism and mysticism in the world of winemaking and wine drinking while delivering a quality product to the masses. He strived to raise the flag of the Colorado wine industry, guided by innovation and creativity.

Innovation and Growth

In 2011, Ben successfully launched TIMT’s first-ever canned wine, Backalley Moscato, which made its world debut at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, at a party held inside the historic Smuggler Mine. One of the most heralded at that year’s Food & Wine Classic, the event helped propel the TIMT brand into the hands of Ben’s industry peers, who embraced its streetwise branding and environmentally friendly, portable packaging.

Now a growing brand seeking to double in size and production, TIMT moved its winery in June 2012 to a 15,000-square-foot space in Denver’s River North Arts District. That season, the largely volunteer team crushed 146 tons of grapes, producing 10,000 cases of wine and generating sales of approximately $1.6 million.

Waving the Colorado Flag

In January 2014, Ben pushed for changes in state law to allow Colorado wineries to package bulk wines from out-of-state producers. Once legislation passed, Ben launched Iron Monkey Kegging Company, targeting distributors and winemakers outside of Colorado seeking kegging facilities. Ben also serves on the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board marketing committee and the board of the Colorado

KRISTEN LINDBECK has been running the tour and tasting program at The Infinite Monkey Theorem since 2014. She is a level 3 sommelier through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and an avid lover of wine and all things related. Kristen took her degree in secondary education from CU Boulder and translated it, a couple of years ago, to the world of wine, and now works to educate the community on wine, the urban winery and the beauty of enjoying and appreciating both.