Former Nobu Matsuhisa Wine Director Brings Distinguished Culinary Experience To Lead The Charge At Infinite Monkey Theorem’s Denver Tasting Room
DENVER, COLO. (October 15, 2014) – Denver-based urban winery The Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery (IMT,) has appointed a new director to oversee the winery’s tasting room and event operations. Shawn Gallus takes the role as Wine Lab and Events Manager, overseeing the guest service experience and wine education programs including tastings and tours. Gallus will also coordinate event programming such as new wine dinners and the winery’s legendary First Friday’s parties, while also launching the winery’s new mobile Wine Truck, which will soon be available for off-site private events.
Originally from St. Cloud, Minnesota, Gallus first came to Colorado to ski the Rocky Mountains for a winter season. He never made it back home when the snow melted, instead heading to the Front Range where he landed a job at Nico’s Catacombs in Fort Collins. He gradually worked his way up the fine-dining management ladder, and it was a chance encounter with an old vintage of Chateau D’Yquem that gave him inspiration to take his knowledge and appreciation of wine to the next level.
Over the years, Gallus worked for many prestigious dining outlets across Colorado and the Western United States, garnering management experience alongside culinary notables and restaurateurs including Nico Zentfeld of Nico’s Catacombs in Fort Collins, Nobu Matsuhisa in Vail and Aspen, and Chef Chai (Chaowasaree) in Hawaii. Gallus became especially well known during his tenure as the pioneering wine director for Matsuhisa Aspen, where he expanded the wine list and introduced an exclusive and rare range of Shochu and Sake’s. During that time Gallus met IMT founder and winemaker, Ben Parsons, who was working as a winemaker and salesman for another local winery. Gallus bought every bottle Parsons had for sale during that first meeting, striking the beginning of their professional relationship. When Parsons eventually launched his own winery Gallus championed The Infinite Monkey Theorem as Colorado’s leading winery, usually buying Infinite Monkey Theorem Riesling and Syrah for his by-the-glass menu.
Gallus said he was instantly drawn to the opportunity to work alongside Parsons’ team and support the growth of the Denver urban winery culture that IMT has driven since 2008. “Ben has always struck me as an innovator. Everything his winery represents pushes the industry in a different direction and turns wine drinkers on their heads. I’m excited to be part of this phenomenon and look at ways to enhance the no-vineyard no-pretense experience for people curious about wine,” said Gallus. “My focus is to raise the bar on the immediate experience for guests at our River North Arts District tasting room. I want it to be polished and superior but a fun experience for guests who can come right off the streets of Denver to actually see the wine making process taking place, to smell the fruit that’s been trucked across the mountains, and to try different wines right from the barrel. That’s a fairly unique experience, yet a fun way to appreciate the drink in your glass on a casual Friday night out.”
Gallus has plans to launch a series of “unexpected” winery dinners in 2015, with other surprises to be revealed. He will also bring previous sales experience from working with Grand Vin/ RNDC to assist the winery’s sales team.
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 California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico and Nevada, as well as nationwide via The Infinite Monkey Theorem’s online wine club.
