Fire ravages historic Laborie Wine Estate, destroying restaurant and accommodation

A fire that broke out at Laborie Wine Estate on Saturday destroyed Giovanni’s Restaurant and part of the estate’s accommodation facilities, dealing a heavy blow to one of Paarl’s most historically significant wine farms.

Laborie, established in 1691, is among the oldest wine estates in South Africa and is deeply tied to the early French Huguenot settlement of the Drakenstein Valley.

Its historic werf and manor house form part of a cultural landscape spanning more than three centuries, making the protection of its heritage structures a critical concern as the fire unfolded.

The blaze started shortly after midday. Drakenstein Municipality confirmed that “two structures — the Cucina Di Giovanni restaurant and the first wing of the accommodation facilities — were destroyed earlier in the incident”. Eight Werf accommodation rooms were affected. All individuals on site were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.

In an official statement, Laborie said it was “deeply saddened by the incident” but relieved that no one was harmed. “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 estate said.

Firefighters faced challenging conditions as strong winds and flying embers caused the fire to spread rapidly across the property. During the incident, embers ignited the thatched roofs of the historic manor house and an adjacent structure known as Die Stoep, raising fears that irreplaceable heritage buildings could be lost.

Drakenstein Municipality later confirmed that the manor house and a second accommodation wing were “successfully protected and are now out of danger”.

The response was led by Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire and Rescue Services, supported by Stellenbosch Municipality, the Cape Winelands District Municipality, the Fire Protection Association (FPA) and DFW Fire & Rescue NPC. FPA helicopters assisted ground crews with aerial water drops as teams battled the blaze for several hours.

DFW Fire & Rescue said the focus of its operation shifted decisively to heritage preservation once the threat to the historic buildings became clear. “The main goal of the rescue operation for the DFW teams was to save the manor house and ‘Die Stoep’, which was successful,” the organisation said.

Laborie thanked firefighters, first responders and members of the wider community for their assistance and support during the emergency. “Our immediate focus is on safety, securing the affected areas and assessing the impact on the estate,” the statement read. “This is a difficult day for Laborie Estate and we appreciate the understanding and respect shown as we move forward.”

Giovanni’s confirmed that its Laborie restaurant will remain closed until further notice. “Our staff are safe. Thank you for all of the unbelievable support. We are devastated,” the restaurant said.

Mop-up operations continued into the night, with fire crews remaining on site to monitor conditions and prevent flare-ups. The cause of the fire remains unknown and will be investigated once operations have been completed.

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