Cape Town’s Historic Vineyards Threatened by Fire, Smoky Wine

Fires raging across Cape Town’s South Peninsula are threatening some of the city’s historic wine farms, with smoke and heat set to affect crops as wine makers reap the last of the summer harvest.

At least two wine farms in the Constantia Valley, below the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, and one at Noordhoek further south, lost vineyards, said John Loubser, general manager of Steenberg, the city’s oldest farm. Winemakers are concerned that smoke may affect unharvested grapes, giving the wine a bitter flavor, he said.