It all started on a cold November day in 2015, when Fabian and Stephanie hand-harvested Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes for their very first wine. Just three barrels were made—small, humble, but full of promise.

From that moment, Ferox began to take shape. The name, meaning fierce in Latin, captured their spirit: bold, determined, and unafraid to carve their own path. In 2018, they found their home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, purchasing the historic Rancourt vineyard, already planted with mature Bordeaux vines on some of the region’s best soils.

Since then, Ferox has grown into a place where tradition and innovation meet—rooted in respect for the land, guided by meticulous vineyard practices, and driven by a love of sharing wines that reflect both place and passion.

The Winemakers & Owners

For Fabian Reis, winemaking isn’t a career—it’s a family inheritance that began in Stuttgart, Germany in 1893. As a sixth-generation vintner, he grew up surrounded by vines, barrels, and the rhythm of harvest. Yet his journey wasn’t just about following tradition. After moving to Niagara as a teenager, Fabian eventually returned to Germany for five years to deepen his craft at one of Europe’s most respected winemaking schools. When he came back to Niagara, he carried with him both centuries of heritage and a determination to make wines that expressed his own voice.

Beside him is Stephanie Reis, his wife and partner in every sense (whose family, incidentally, comes from the same part of Germany as Fabian's!). A Niagara native with a background in sport and event marketing, she later trained as a certified sommelier. Stephanie has become the heart of the Ferox experience, welcoming guests, telling the stories behind each bottle, and ensuring that the winery feels less like a business and more like a family table.

And then there’s winemaker Cubby Sadoon, who once thought his future was in medicine. But while working part-time in Niagara’s wine industry during his studies, he discovered that wine offered the perfect blend of science and creativity. He never looked back. In 2020, Cubby joined Ferox, bringing with him a decade of curiosity, training, and passion.

Together, this trio forms the winemaking soul of Ferox—a team bound by friendship, shared purpose, and an unwavering belief in what Niagara’s vineyards can express.