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The Infinite Monkey Theorem Pushes for New Colorado Law to Support Growing Trend for Kegged Wine

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Proposed “Monkey Wine Bill” Would Enable Winemakers to Repackage Out-of-State Bulk Wine, Driving Huge Growth for Colorado’s Wine Industry

Infinite Monkey TheoremDENVER, Colo. (January 22, 2014) – Ben Parsons, winemaker and founder of Denver’s The Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery (IMT) testified yesterday in front of the Colorado House Business, Labor, Economic & Workforce Development Committee, to give lawmakers a “101 in Wine Kegging and Canning”, as part of his efforts to spearhead change in Colorado laws to allow winemakers to package out of state bulk wine.

Parsons, who launched his infamous range of red, white and rose canned wine in 2011, found a need to seek changes in the law, after being approached by a number of leading distributors and out-of-state wine manufacturers who wanted to ship their bulk wine to his Denver-based winery to be re-packaged into kegs and then sent direct to customers including local restaurants across the state- a process which is currently forbidden. Parsons set out on a course to change the regulations and did not hesitate to dive into the political and legislative process. He quickly found a sponsor for the proposed “Monkey Wine Bill” legislation.

House Bill 1043, introduced in the Colorado state legislature last week, is being sponsored by Rep. Angela Williams (D-Denver) and Sen. Cheri Jahn (D-Wheat Ridge). It could give local state winemakers huge opportunities to grow their businesses and generate additional employment within the Colorado wine industry.The proposed law would allow IMT and other wineries across the state to also bottle, box or can other out-of-state wine product, before that product is then distributed in Colorado and other regional states. The Business, Labor, Economic & Workforce Committee passed the bill unanimously today, and it will shortly be heard by the House of Representatives.

IMT has itself seen a rising trend in wine-on-tap, with increased demand for its kegged product since launching a red and white wine by the keg in September 2011. In Denver alone, IMT supplies kegs to more than 40 restaurants and bars, with customers benefitting from a lower priced but high quality glass or carafe of wine. Wine-on-tap helps reduce packaging, using less glass bottles, corks and tin capsules in addition to reducing the cost of bulk shipping of glass bottles and large kegs across the country. Instead, large quantities of wine would be shipped in lightweight plastic skin containers, a much cheaper process. Colorado Wineries will also have an opportunity to enter the keg market in an economically viable way, by utilizing other operations’ winery equipment.

“Infinite Monkey Theorem has been approached by a number of wine manufacturers about repackaging their bulk wine at our premises. A change in the law will allow us to provide a whole new service and something which could become a separate business for us,” said Parsons. “I’ve been kegging my own wine since 2011, and I can see this change opening the doors for a huge amount of growth for wineries across our state. Its just another service offering and a means to grow Colorado’s wine industry.”

“HB 14-1034 enables Colorado wineries to meet customer demand for more cost-effective, quality-controlled and environmentally conscious packaging.  Wineries that choose to enhance their wine production with packaging services will provide more quality jobs for Coloradans,” said Rep. Williams.

Denver-based wine distributor, Jim Smith, Managing Director of Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), said: “We are seeing a growing demand for this kind of service from our out of state wine producing customers. Right now, its a lost opportunity for the Colorado wine industry, but with a change in the law small winemakers including Infinite Monkey Theorem stand to gain from the huge business potential of re-packaging out of state wine which can be shipped in a more economical and eco-friendly way.”

Infinite Monkey Wie Keg Law

LEFT: Rep. Angela Williams (D- Denver), Ben Parsons, winemaker and president of The Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery, Denver. RIGHT: (from L to R) Jay Christenson, owner of Canyon Wind Cellars and president of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, Ben Parsons, winemaker and president of The Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery, Denver., Rep. Angela Williams (D- Denver). Photographer: Scott Quinn

About The Infinite Monkey Theorem

Ben Parsons founded The Infinite Monkey Theorem winery in 2008 in a no-vineyard/no pretense setting in a Quonset hut in downtown Denver. He uses predominantly grapes from the Western Slope of Colorado, and the results are top-notch, well-respected accessible wines in a 29,000 sq ft urban winery located in the River North Art District of Denver. To honor Ben’s father who passed away from cancer and to continue the search for a cure, IMT has partnered with The University of Colorado Cancer Center (UCCC). The UCCC is the Rocky Mountain region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. A portion of the proceeds from each IMT bottle sold goes to this fund.  Wines are available at select stores and restaurants across Colorado, New Mexico, California and Georgia, as well as nationwide via The Infinite Monkey Theorem’s online wine club.

For media information contact Sarah-Jane Johnson, SJPR 
310 854 2408 • sarahjane@sarahjanejohnson.com
Connect with The Infinite Monkey Theorem on Facebook and Twitter

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