RL Cinema Series
Presented by Veronique Cecilia Barretto
Series XV: Wine Moments that Shaped the World
Wine is complex. It captivates all of our senses. We enjoy learning about it through books, stories, tastings, dinners, and trips. Wine films can add an extra layer to our appreciation of wine. Roosevelt Library, in collaboration with sommelier Cecilia Barretto, brings you a wine cinema series featuring wine films that have taken the interest in wine to new heights and will satisfy your insatiable thirst for the desirable fermented grape beverage.
6:30PM Reception - 6:45PM Discussion - 7:15PM Screening
Each viewing will include a tasting of wines paired with the film and a specially curated dinner.
Our sommelier, Cecilia, will introduce the film, allow for brief pauses for commentary, and conclude with a short group discussion.
Open to the Public - Limited to 20
RL Cinema XV
Wine Moments that Shaped the World
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Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Baked Goat Cheese with Spring Lettuce Salad
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Short Rib Bourguignon
Mashed Potatoes
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Individual Cheese Board
Californian Humboldt Fog with Marcona Almonds
Spanish Manchego D.O.P. with Membrillo
French Roquefort with Brandied Apricots
A vegan and gluten-free menu is available.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Bottle Shock (2008): 110 min
The Battle of New vs. Old World Wines
Based on the true story of the 1976 “Judgment of Paris,” this movie captures the moment when Californian wines shocked the world by triumphing over French wines in a blind tasting. Starring Alan Rickman as a skeptical British wine merchant, Bottle Shock is an underdog story filled with drama, humor, and a fascinating look at how Napa Valley earned its place on the global wine stage.
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Tuesday, September 9, 22025
Sour Grapes (2016): 85 min
Fake vintages, real deception - the untold story of the wine world's biggest scam.
This highly entertaining documentary tells the strange story of Rudy Kurniawan, a young wine savant who in the early 2000s electrified the sedate world of US wine investment. He schmoozed the top players in wine, dazzled them with his apparent wealth, then conned wine investors out of millions of dollars. Kurniawan was presiding over a viticultural Enron. And because the market in wine, like that of contemporary art, depends on the bubble of reputation, it is always vulnerable to anxiety about value.
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Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Somm (2012): 94 min
The Ultimate Wine Test
Ever wondered what it takes to become a master sommelier? Somm is a gripping documentary that follows four candidates as they prepare for the toughest wine exam on the planet. It’s intense, educational, and will make you appreciate just how much knowledge, discipline, and passion go into every sip you take. Warning: this movie may inspire you to level up your own wine-tasting skills!
Cecilia’s passion for wine started 23 years ago, to include three years in Burgundy for an MSc in Wine Business, and many exam trips to Napa to complete the Level 4 Diploma of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). For the last three years she has run a wine edutainment business, with a particular joy for events with pairings that go beyond food.
PARKING AT THE ROOSEVELT LIBRARY
The Roosevelt Library has about 50 complimentary self-parking spaces available to guests. Street parking is often available. Vehicles are not to be left in the Roosevelt Library parking lot overnight. The Roosevelt Library will not be liable for theft or damages to vehicles or the contents of vehicles.
MAP TO THE ROOSEVELT LIBRARY
HISTORY OF THE ROOSEVELT LIBRARY
The First Carnegie Library of San Antonio opened in 1903. The original building at 210 W. Market Street was constructed with funding donated by Andrew Carnegie, on property donated by Caroline Kampann. On September 9, 1921, a storm event created from the remnants of a hurricane moved through Central Texas and produced over seven inches of rainfall in downtown San Antonio and the near west side of the city. The flooding forced the temporary closure of the Carnegie Library. It was razed in 1929 and the new main library was completed in August 1930 on the original site. The name changed from Carnegie Library to San Antonio Public Library.
In 1929 the Roosevelt Park Branch Library, San Antonio’s South side library, opened and in 1968 it closed. The building is located across from the Roosevelt Park which marks the beginning of the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project, an eight mile stretch of the San Antonio River that has received designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the building’s architect was John Marriott who also designed the Carnegie Library in Delaware, Ohio. Leland Stone purchased the building in 2013. The building is the home of the Roosevelt Library Social Club.
Open bar. Dietary preferences accommodated.
This nonrefundable ticket is transferable.