Quote (sproknet @ Sep 12 2011 01:08pm)
Go for dryer wines when serving with food. Most important thing is to pick something that you enjoy drinking. Don't be afriad to serve a good beer instead of wine if the food calls for it.
the very basics:
red:
steak, beef
game
any italian dish with tomato sauce (a good chianti will always taste right with this)
white:
shellfish
most fish
chicken/lighter poultry
A good primer, except for the bit about dry wine. It all depends on what you are serving. For example sweeter Rieslings and fruity Zinfandels go really well with the right spicy foods. Dessert wines also go great with, well, desserts, but aso fruits and cheeses. Really, you should pair pretty much all wine with food--dry or sweet.
Also, to the OP, there are so many different kinds of red and white wine out there, we can make better recommendations if you specify what you've got (or what kind of food you like).