
"Is it possible to make wine with just lettuce?" Seth Brisbane, Ann Arbor, Michigan
I do not believe it is possible to make wine from lettuce alone. It contains no acid, sugar, tannin, or body, so these things at least would have to be added. However, here are two recipes you might try that are largely based on lettuce.
Chop lettuce and place in pot with 1/2 gallon of water. Bring to a boil, cover pot, and deduce heat to low boil for 30 minutes. Strain off lettuce pulp and add sugar to boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then pour into primary over raisins and zest of orange and lemon. Juice the citrus and add to primary. Add yeast nutrient and tannin and stir to dissolve. Add remaining water, cover primary and set aside to cool. When room temperature, add crushed Campden, stir, cover, and set aside for 24 hours. Add activated yeast. Stir twice daily until s.g. drops to 1.030. Strain through nylon straining bag, transfer liquid to secondary and fit airlock. After 30 days, rack, top up and refit airlock. Repeat after 60 days. Wait another 60 days and, if clear, rack into bottles. If wine does not clear on its own, refit airlock and wait another 60 days. Age six months before tasting. Improves with age. [Author's own recipe]
Chop lettuce and place in pot with 1/2 gallon of water. Bring to a boil, cover pot, and deduce heat to low boil for 30 minutes. Strain off lettuce pulp and add sugar to boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then pour into primary over zest of orange and lemon. Juice the citrus and add to primary with grape juice concentrate. Add yeast nutrient and tannin and stir to dissolve. Add remaining water, cover primary and set aside to cool. When room temperature, add crushed Campden, stir, cover, and set aside for 24 hours. Add activated yeast. Stir twice daily until s.g. drops to 1.030. Strain through nylon straining bag, transfer liquid to secondary and fit airlock. After 30 days, rack, top up and refit airlock. Repeat after 60 days. Wait another 60 days and, if clear, rack into bottles. If wine does not clear on its own, refit airlock and wait another 60 days. May taste right away but improves with age. [Author's own recipe]
My thanks to Seth Brisbane of Ann Arbor, Michigan for this request.