Chief Executive of International Diplomatic Supplies Patrick Doyle offers his wine suggestions for drinking with friends

Not every wine needs to be enjoyed with food. Sometimes you just want to have a glass of wine with friends. It’s good to know which wines are best suited to these occasions.

With white wine, too much acidity can be unpleasant without the accompaniment of a meal. The Italian variety of Gavi is perfect in this way. IDS offers three options, my favourite being the Gavi di Gavi, La Caplana from Piedmont. The mouth-filling notes of pear and elegant minerality are well worth the £7 cost. We also offer a perfectly good Gavi for £3.80.

Whereas rosé wines generally work very well with seafood and crisp salads, the Cabernet Sauvignon Rosado, Principe de Viana from the Navarra region of Spain is a richer, fuller bodied rosé. The wine still exhibits the typical strawberry and raspberry intensity on the nose and on the palate but without the acidity of many rosés. At only £4.10 per bottle it presents extremely good value.

Those heavier, full-bodied red wines are simply delicious with a steak or other meaty dishes, but a lighter red is more suited to drinking with friends when no food is involved. My choice would be a French Pinot Noir. This is the grape of all the fine (and expensive) red wines from the Burgundy region of France. Pinot Noir d’Autrefois, Vin de Pays d’Oc is absolutely delicious. Its aromas of summer fruits set the tone, followed by a taste that is light with hints of cherry and strawberry. You could serve this wine slightly chilled if you prefer. Once again, great value at £5 per bottle.

I hope that these wines help you to enjoy your autumn.