■ Francis Ford Coppola's latest project is not a movie, but a line of international wines called Encyclopedia Wines. (He already produces California wines under the Francis Coppola label.) His new venture encourages wine lovers to start a wine library with varietals from around the world.
The wines, each $15, include pinot grigio from Italy, cabernet sauvignon from France, tempranillo from Spain and riesling from Germany, all of which come in unusual beaker-shaped bottles that also serve as decanters.
The project is combined with a Web site designed to help people increase their wine knowledge -- not just about these wines, but also the history and myths surrounding them.
So far, the site doesn't rise to the level of an encyclopedia of wine knowledge by any means. But it does have a good glossary of wine terms. The site also has a place for people to send specific questions by e-mail.
The Web site may be the best part about this project -- Encyclopedia's cabernet didn't do well in an informal taste test of similarly priced reds.
To buy the wines or for more information, visit the Web site, www.knowine.com.
Stokes County Extension offers weight-loss classes
■ The Stokes County office of the N.C. Cooperative Extensive Service will offer an 11-week weight-management program from Jan. 13 through March 24.
Janelle Kent, an extension agent in Stokes, will teach Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less. It will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays in the extension service's office at 700 N Main St. in Danbury.
The program combines exercise ideas, recipes, food samples and more to help people make healthy choices about eating and physical activity.
The cost is $20. Paid registration is required by Jan. 9.
For more information or to register, call Kent at 336-593-8179.
Toasting the New Year? It'd be fitting to be frugal
■ Looking for some bargain bubbly for New Year's? Here are a few choices, all for about $10 a bottle:
□ Cristalino cava brut, consistently good and refreshing.
□ Domaine Ste. Michelle blanc de blanc, tart and rich, but also wonderful flavors.
□ Freixenet cordon negro brut, dry, and a consistent crowd-pleaser.
□ Yellow Tail sparkling white wine, easy drinking.
□ Dolce Vita prosecco, fresh and bright, lightly fizzy.
□ Barefoot Cellars, Barefoot bubbly chardonnay champagne, simple but refreshing and versatile.
□ Crane Lake Brut, fruity and straightforward, good for making cocktails.
□ Ricossa moscato d'asti, a frizzante (slightly sparkling wine) with aromas of ripe peaches and limes.
□ Banrock Station sparkling chardonnay, fruity with notes of green apples and white peach.
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