For those hosting a dinner trying to pare a quality wine with the menu can sometimes be a challenge. Of course there are those general rules of thumb for paring food and wine. Generally wine enthusiasts know it is best to serve red wine with red meats and to serve white wine with fish. Of course there are exceptions to these rules and science recently tackled the question of why in particular red wine should not be consumed with a fish dinner.
Of course any wine enthusiast who has ever tried having a red wine with fish will tell you that the taste the two create is less than desirable. Recent research has shown that wines with high amounts of iron are those that do not go well with fish. Iron levels in red wines are closely based on the soil the grapes are grown in as well as the steps taken in the fermentation process.
While the general rules of thumb will help a host find a suitable wine to serve with their food, there are books on the subject to help them find just the right combination. These books make excellent personalized wine gifts for those you know who aspire to be the perfect wine party host or hostess.