NOT DRINKING POISON

DROPLETS: The Week in Natural Wine

Vital natural wine counter-propaganda. This week: Alicia Dorey rewrites natural wine history. Fear of sweet wine. Friedman on AI farming. Provençal…

Sep 20 • 

Aaron Ayscough

14

4

August 2025

Going Hungary

Exploring volcanic terroirs in a hotbed of illiberalism. Plus: visits to Levente Major, Papa Aron Pince, and Bálint Losonci.

Aug 18 • 

Aaron Ayscough

18

Bring On the Major Leagues: Levente Major

Primary school headmaster, heavy metal afficionado, beer geek - Abasar's Levente Major wears many hats. He also produces some of Hungary's greatest…

Aug 18 • 

Aaron Ayscough

7

The Natural Balance: Bálint Losonci

An interview with Bálint Losonci, who coaxes ripe, exotic, Beauger-esque elixirs from gentle volcanic slopes surrounding Gyöngyöspata in the Mátra…

Aug 18 • 

Aaron Ayscough

4

The Kitchen on the Mountain: Papa Aron Pince (PAP)

At Szent György hegy estate Papa Aron Pince, neo-vignerons Aron Molnar & Karina Vissonova craft some of the most original natural wines of Balaton.

Aug 18 • 

Aaron Ayscough

4

Remembering Bernard Bellahsen

An archive interview with the inestimably influential Languedoc vigneron behind Fontedicto, who passed away on Aug. 4th.

Aug 6 • 

Aaron Ayscough

18

1

June 2025

Summer 2025 Natural Wine Salons

A calendar of upcoming natural wine salons for June, July, and August 2025. Plus: a visit to Auvergne natural wine destination Hostel Orfenor, and a…

Jun 3 • 

Aaron Ayscough

13

Dining on the Wine Trail: Hostel Orfenor, Brioude

Laura Victor & Zach Watson's adorable restaurant-auberge embodies the pluck and can-do spirit of the Auvergne neo-paysan new wave.

Jun 3 • 

Aaron Ayscough

8

1

My 2023 Vintage

A belated report on my third vintage of wines from abandoned vineyards in the Languedoc. (And another wine from an abandoned vineyard in the Loiret.)

Jun 3 • 

Aaron Ayscough

7

May 2025

DROPLETS: The Week in Natural Wine

Vital natural wine counter-propaganda. This week: Jefford on autocracy. Why winery start-ups fail. Eco concern-trolling in the Guardian. Still Prosecco…

May 23 • 

Aaron Ayscough

16

3

April 2025

Chefs Who Give A Shit About Wine

Introducing Series V of the NOT DRINKING POISON podcast, featuring interviews with chefs Harry Lester, Jonathan Schweizer, and Mateo Breña.

Apr 8 • 

Aaron Ayscough

28

1

Ep. 32: Harry Lester of Le Comptoir Central des Bazars

A chat with the British chef whose series of Auvergne bistrots - L'Auberge de Chassignoles, Le Saint Eutrope, and Le Comptoir Central des Bazars - have…

Apr 8 • 

Aaron Ayscough

 and 

Harry Lester

9

43:04