In this Barrels and Roots episode, I sit down with Siphe Mwanza from South Africa, who is building a wine investment platform designed to democratize access to fine wine as an asset class. 

We get into why wine can hold value over time, how collectibles like classic cars, watches, art, and even rare memorabilia can become real stores of wealth, and why so many everyday people never get invited into these markets. Siphe breaks down the biggest barriers, access, admin, relationships, pricing knowledge, and explains how fractional ownership, bonded storage, and education through tastings and masterclasses can make wine investing feel more like a modern platform experience instead of a private club. We also talk about South Africa’s underappreciated wine history, why regions like Swartland and Stellenbosch deserve more global attention, and what habits help beginners build real taste and judgment before they ever think about investing.

What is one “non obvious” thing you think can hold value long-term, wine, watches, art, classic cars, memorabilia, something else, and why?