Now's your chance to dive into WBW #33 Languedoc-Roussillon value wines

Hey, take a look to the left... Have you ever felt like opening a bottle of wine made from one of these grapes? Try doing it this week and discover Languedoc-Roussillon value wines while your at it. It's the theme of Wine Blogging Wednesday 33. As themes go, it is extraordinarily broad in terms of grape varieties so there's guaranteed to be a flavour to please every palate on WBW, May 16.

Yes, it is true that the last weekend before WBW has already passed. But if you're reading this without having committed to a Languedoc-Roussillon wine to share with the wine-blogging world, it's not too late.

Like I said, why not investigate which wines from the South of France wines are made with those lovely ripened red grapes pictured in the photographs? Clicking the grapes takes you a website with an interactive map of Languedoc-Roussillon. When you click on a wine-producing area on the map, you get a breakdown of the grapes that area typically uses in their wines. So why not dive into a region that typically uses the grape you'd like to sample. You should know that Languedoc-Roussillon makes wines from white grapes as well as red ones, and produces wines many different styles: sweet, dry, fortified, rosé, you name it.

If you don't see your favourite grape, you're still likely to have a chance at tasting a distinctly French version of it in a Vin de Pays bottle of wine. The best way to handle the situation if that is your case, is just to ask your local wine merchant for a French Vin de Pays made with the grape you're interested in. Also let your merchant know that your budget for the bottle should be $15-30 -- the range contended by wine experts to pack the best bang for the buck.

After all, WBW 33 is about value wines -- it's called Languedoc-Roussillon value wines.

Once you've got your bottle, read the details on how to contribute your wine to WBW 33. Then learn more about the value wines of Languedoc-Roussillon when you read up on other participants' tastings, all of which can be found in the round up here on Doctor Weingolb.

For my part -- your humble host for Wine Blogging Wednesday 33 -- I've been spending the final weekend for WBW preparations updating and adding to the wino-friendly lists and guides found on Doktor Weingolb's appendix.

Any last minute questions or comments? Just let me know. And best of luck opening that Languedoc-Roussillon value wine, aka Mid-priced wine from the Midi.

Hope you make a bargain discovery!