Take a look at that label first: a stag in a wine glass, a snake with a parasol, an armadillo on a little house. Hands Off is a young Spanish brand working with winemakers who intervene as little as possible, and you can see it in the collages: playful, slightly mad and free of pretension. This white is made for them by Bodegas Gardel, a family winery in Las Mesas, in the province of Cuenca.

Character

Verdejo is Castile's great white grape. It's known for its freshness, for citrus and green apple, and for a lightly herbal, sometimes slightly bitter touch on the finish that keeps the glass interesting. At 11.5% this is a light, easy-going wine: not one to debate for hours, but one to drink with pleasure. Organic and vegan, as the label says.

How I serve it

Well chilled, at 8 to 10 °C. It's at its best within the first hour of opening, so ideal for sharing a bottle between two.

• As an aperitif, with olives and cubes of Manchego.
• With a goat's cheese, apple and walnut salad.
• With garlic prawns or mussels in white wine.
• With sushi or a poke bowl.

What to do with it

This isn't a bottle to put away, it's a bottle to open. Chill it for a summer evening or a spontaneous drinks, or bring it when you drop in on someone: with that label you've got a conversation starter. Together with the rosé and the red, you've got three organic wines at a friendly price.

Origin & facts

• Grape — Verdejo
• Origin — Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain
• Alcohol — 11,5% vol
• Volume — 75 cl
• Organic — EU organic, control body ES-ECO-002-CM
• Vegan — yes, with vegan label
• Producer — Bodegas Gardel, Las Mesas (Cuenca, Spain), for Hands Off
• Allergens — contains sulphites