It seems to be the season for sipping and sampling. There are plenty of great dining events and wine tastings this time of year; here are a few choices for the upcoming week:

  • Chef “Goose” Sorenson of Solera Restaurant and Wine bar hosts a special night of wine and cheese pairings this Wednesday at Solera. This event goes above and beyond Solera’s usual “Wine Tasting Wednesdays,” with a four-hour tasting of cheese-inspired dishes and a buffet of 25 specialty cheeses and suggested wines for pairings. Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Sid Cook (known for his cave-aged cheddars and specialty mixed-milk cheeses) will be on hand to talk about the artisan cheese making process and the Master Cheesemaker program. $15, 4-8p.m., 5410 E. Colfax, 303-388-8429.

  • from the Denver Cru wine shop in Riverfront will host a wine tasting Thursday night at the + Gallery featuring over 75 wines from his distributors. Wayne says this will be a great opportunity for tasters to buy wines for the holiday season at huge discounts, and art lovers will appreciate “People/Place,” the gallery’s current group exhibit of contemporary photography. $25, 6-10 p.m., 2350 Lawrence St., 303-296-0927.

  • It’s nearly time for the annual release of the Beaujolais Nouveau, and next week francophiles will celebrate in style. Brasserie Rouge and the Rocky Mountain French-American Business Association are throwing a casino-themed “Monte Carlo Night” on Thursday, November 18. with a French buffet dinner, wine, and silent auction. $45, 6-10 p.m., 1801 Wynkoop St., 303-695-7818 for reservations.