Fire in the South African Winelands

Bregje van Weezel (47) lives with her family in Cape Town, South Africa. She writes about her experiences in this colourful but also complex country. In this column, she shares her enthusiasm and knowledge about the South African wine industry. Her stories are neither too dry nor too heavy, and this column fits her (wine-loving) personality perfectly. If you'd like to read more about everything she enjoys in South Africa, follow Bregje on Instagram @vin_ik_leuk.

It’s been a tense week in and around Cape Town. A massive wildfire threatened the wine estates of Buitenverwachting, Steenberg, Constantia Uitsig, and Klein Constantia. What happened—and what’s the situation now?

Deliberately Ignited

Wildfires are not uncommon in the Cape. The indigenous vegetation, fynbos, actually relies on fire to regenerate. But this fire was anything but natural. It started in the forested area of Tokai, just south of Cape Town, and was deliberately set in several locations. The fire brigade initially managed to get it under control, until a few days later, when the wind changed direction and temperatures soared. The fire flared up again with full force and quickly spread across a vast area—from the Silvermine Nature Reserve to Noordhoek, Kalk Bay, and all the way to Muizenberg. Even from Hout Bay, we could see the fire coming over the mountain.

Kick-Ass Firefighters

Luckily, the wineries had already harvested and safely stored their grapes in the cellars. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, the 2025 harvest is already complete—in fact, the first Sauvignon Blancs are already bottled and shining on the shelves. Another stroke of luck: the Cape not only has a lot of experience with wildfires, but also a team of truly kick-ass firefighters. Many of them volunteers, these heroes worked tirelessly for days on end, without sleep or rest. It’s heartwarming to see how the community supported them—energy drinks, ready-to-eat meals, and eye drops were donated in huge quantities. Even supermarkets joined in to help contain the fire as quickly as possible.

Firebreaks

As the wind—and with it the fire—kept shifting direction, there were many tense moments. In the end, the firebreaks around the wine estates saved the day. These are wide, cleared strips of land that stop the fire from spreading. When helicopters weren’t available, firefighters used explosive fire-beaters to push back the flames and avoid being trapped. The wineries also helped each other by sharing water and making their water reservoirs available for the helicopters to scoop up water for aerial firefighting.

3,000 Hectares

It wasn’t until this past Tuesday that the fire was finally under control. However, there are still dangerous hotspots that could flare up again. Fortunately, rain is in the forecast. Around 3,000 hectares of nature have been burned—but miraculously, not a single (wine)house was lost. This incredible achievement is entirely thanks to the tireless efforts of the fire brigade, supported wholeheartedly by the local community. The arsonist has been caught and will be behind bars for some time. Meanwhile, animal rescue volunteers are now searching for injured wildlife. And one more piece of good news: the fynbos will begin to regrow during the coming winter.