Tasting Dinner at Ariana's Restaurant - Orford, NH

Our friends bid on a tasting dinner for 6 at Ariana's Restaurant at the annual Upper Valley Humane Society Auction. They took us and some friends there dinner over the 4th of July weekend. Orford is a beautiful classic small New England town and the food at Ariana's was terrific. The chef was a really personable guy who brought out each course and explained the wine pairing he had chosen.

Seared scallops served with wild mushroom puff pastry.

• 2014 Acrobat Winery Pinot Gris

  USA, Oregon

  No aromatics. Bright acidity - not complex but paired nicely with seared scallops.

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Pan fried striped bass over rice with chile pepper sauce. The off-dry riesling was chosen to offset the heat from chile peppers. Worked well

• 2014 Louis Guntrum Riesling

  Germany, Rheinhessen

  Off dry - pretty nose. A bit too sweet for my palette but was paired with aspic you snapper so it worked.

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Cippino of cod and clams. While the pairing worked well here - this was my least favorite of the dishes - as I am just not a fan of fish stew.

• 2013 Cafaggio Chianti Classico Villa Cafaggio

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Nice floral aromatics. Smooth on the palate but not terribly complex.

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Bitter green salad with cranberries, duck confit and champagne vinaigrette. Really nice contrast with the bitter greens, fat from the duck, sweet tart of cranberry and the rustic style of the wine.

• 2014 Delas Frères Côtes du Rhône Saint-Esprit

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  For a $12 bottle pretty tasty. Nice tannin and acid a bit grippy on the back palate. Paired with duck confit salad.

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Moroccan style couscous with slow braised lamb. The dish was delicious but I was not a fan of this oaky style wine - too overpowering even with a dish this highly flavored.

• 2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Red Blend Indian Wells

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Agree with oaky vanilla toast notes - but this is not preferred style so did not care for. If you like oak -'this is probably a good QPR daily drinker - if you don't please avoid.

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Spice cake made with goats milk yoghurt - topped with a yoghurt sauce and baked apples. The pairing went well - but did not care for the apple wine.

• NV Seven Birches Winery Windy Ridge

  USA, New Hampshire

  My first (and probably last) time trying apple wine. This was paired with desert at a tasting dinner. Color is pale yellow. Smells similar to apple juice/cidar. The taste is very strong of ripe apples with a lingering bitterness in the back palate which I find to be quite unpleasant.

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A great night with wonderful friends and good food. It is such a treat to find this small little rustic restaurant in the middle of the countryside, turning out such interesting and tasty food with thoughtful wine pairings. If you find yourself in this part of NH, absolutely give it a try.