More than 100 students from Washington to Florida are gearing up to take a final exam -- not in chemistry or history, but in winemaking. And they're doing it from the convenience of their own homes and offices. The students are participating in the world's only distance-education program in winemaking, offered by the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology in cooperation with the campus's University Extension. "Even though I'm not as far away from Davis as many of the other students, I find that being able to incorporate the class into and around my work schedule is fabulous," said Annette Davis, the manager of employee education at Robert Mondavi winery in the Napa Valley. The course, designed for wine industry employees and wine enthusiasts, provides an introduction to the technical aspects of winemaking, as well as an overview of the history and economics of major winemaking regions around the world. With a set of 10 videotapes, reading materials and access to the class Web site, students can listen to lectures, view slides, ask questions and complete exams without ever traveling to UC Davis. The winter-quarter course will run Jan. 6-March 17, costing $500. "The e-mail interchange provides a significant portion of the education for this course" explains Jim Lapsley, course coordinator and director of agricultural programs for University Extension, UC Davis. "There is a continual learning process going on, and it's exciting to see how well the distance-learning format is working for the students."