Last night, Lettuce celebrated the launch of its new wine collaboration, Lettuce Crush, with a free event at My Boy Tony’s in Denver, offering fans a first taste of two new delectable blends—Red Crush and Orange Crush—alongside a vinyl DJ set by NELLI and fee-free ticket sales for the band’s upcoming July 4th show with GZA at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom.
Crafted in collaboration with Colorado-based natural winery Aquila Cellars, Lettuce Crush Vol. 1 marks a bold new venture for Lettuce, bringing the future funk sextet’s forward-thinking artistry and genre-blending creativity from the stage to the cellar. Both varietals are made from organically grown grapes with no additives and produced at high altitude in Paonia, CO.
“Lettuce has always stood for well-made things in their purest form,” the band shared in a statement. “Well-made records, well-made instruments, well-made food—and now, well-made wine. We don’t need filler, additives or any gobbledygook. So, we decided to make a wine that is just that, nothing added or taken away, just as Mother Earth intended it.”
A 50/50 blend of Teroldego and Barbera aged in neutral oak for 10 months, Aquila Cellars co-founder and winemaker Brandt Thibodeaux described Red Crush as “high country meets low country in a glass,” calling it “deeply rooted, high-acid, soulful—it’s the kind of wine that plays like a groove.”
Orange Crush is a refreshing skin-contact blend of Riesling and Pinot Gris bursting with citrus zest, tropical notes, and a pop of raspberry. “There’s something energetically primal about a field blend,” Thibodeaux noted. “When you are harvesting the grapes and you see the different colors and characters enjoying each other’s company in the bin, you can’t help but think… this is how it was meant to be.”
According to a press release, “It’s a porch pounder with enough structure to cellar and pop at the next album drop or you might decide to crush it yourself before the second set.”
The partnership between Lettuce and Aquila Cellars was born out of mutual admiration and a shared passion for innovation and elevated expression. It was brought to life by trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom and saxophonist Ryan Zoidis’ wine distribution company, Benny & Zoid Selections, who made it accessible to purchase nationwide and soon-to-be in Colorado restaurants and retailers. “Aquila Cellars has been a trailblazer in the Colorado wine scene for the last five years,” said trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom. “Growing organic grapes in some of the highest vineyards of North America is very difficult and expensive. These wines came out GREAT and we’re beyond grateful to Aquila Cellars for making the first-ever Lettuce Crush happen.”
The collaboration is the first of Lettuce’s culinary crossovers, but the band hinted that additional delicious endeavors are in the works.
Lettuce Crush is now available to ship nationwide. Head here to learn more and order yours today.
Lettuce is also set to announce a new record, which the band plans to release song by song. Saxophonist Ryan Zoidis described the album as “a little more evolved,” saying, “[It] has some different avenues that we haven’t gone down before. It’s a little bit more psychedelic (with) 13 tracks and some interludes.”
Bloom concurred, adding, “It’s not just straight hit-you-over-the-head funk. It goes down a lot of different directions. I’d say it’s our most vibey record. Put it on with drinks or glass of wine.”