A fire swept through parts of the historic Laborie Wine Estate in Paarl on Saturday, destroying Giovanni’s Restaurant and eight Werf accommodation rooms, while firefighters successfully prevented the blaze from spreading to the estate’s iconic Manor House.
According to an official statement from Laborie Estate, the fire broke out around midday and was brought under control later in the afternoon following an extensive emergency response.
No injuries
“Laborie Estate confirms that a fire occurred on the estate today, resulting in the loss of Giovanni’s Restaurant and eight Werf accommodation rooms,” the statement said.
The estate confirmed that no injuries were reported.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident, but above all, relieved to confirm that no injuries were reported and that all individuals on site are safe,” the statement added.
Fire crews from multiple emergency services responded to the scene, battling challenging conditions as strong winds swept through the Cape Winelands.
The fire was contained by late afternoon, with authorities confirming that the historic Manor House and a second accommodation wing were no longer under threat.
Gratitude to firefighters
Laborie Estate expressed gratitude to the firefighters, emergency services and first responders for their swift response, as well as to the wider community for its support.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.
“Our immediate focus is on safety, securing the affected areas and assessing the impact on the estate,” the statement said, adding that further updates on operations would be shared once assessments are complete.
The incident comes amid heightened fire risk across the Western Cape during the festive season, with persistent south-easterly winds, dry vegetation and warm temperatures creating dangerous conditions for fast-spreading fires.
Emergency services remained on monitoring duty into the evening to prevent flare-ups as windy conditions persisted.
