Fire at historic Laborie Wine Estate in Paarl destroys facilities, mop-up operations continue

A major fire ripped through the historic Laborie Wine Estate in Paarl on Saturday, December 20, destroying key structures.

The blaze, which broke out shortly after midday, destroyed Giovanni’s Restaurant and the eight Werf accommodation rooms of the estate before it was contained, said the Drakenstein Municipality.

Firefighting teams were able to protect the historic Manor House and a second accommodation wing.

Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire and Rescue Services responded quickly alongside support from Stellenbosch Municipality, the Cape Winelands District Municipality, the Fire Protection Association (FPA), and DFW Fire & Rescue NPC.

Helicopters deployed by the FPA conducted aerial water drops to assist ground crews battling the blaze amid strong wind conditions. 

Fire crews remained on site into Sunday to monitor hotspots and prevent flare-ups, as mop-up and cleanup operations continued.

The estate, one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa, established in 1691, confirmed that no injuries were reported and that all guests and staff were safely evacuated. In a statement, Laborie said an investigation into the cause of the fire was underway.

“Our immediate focus is on safety, securing the affected areas, and assessing the impact on the estate. Further updates regarding operations will be shared once assessments are complete."