An Adelaide Hills local, Declan’s wine career spans across education, production, sales, distribution, and hospitality. A certified wine industry ‘all-rounder,’ his vintage and vineyard experience includes Shaw + Smith in the Adelaide Hills, Oliver’s Taranga and Chapel Hill in McLaren Vale, and Bremerton in Langhorne Creek. Declan’s broader wine industry experience also includes distribution across Australia and the UK, as well as time as a WSET educator in London.

Declan’s passion lies in the complexities of grapes and vineyards that reflect their unique style and place. His knowledge of regions, varieties, and techniques continues to grow as he works toward his WSET diploma.

At Forlak Wines, Declan brings a refined palate and worldly expertise to every step of the process. Driven by the goal of producing expressive, high-quality wines that showcase their origins, he draws inspiration from unique wine regions such as Bierzo, the Douro Valley, and Rioja.