The Swiss Army Knife

An Adelaide Hills Local, Declan’s wine career has spanned widely across education, production, sales, distribution and hospitality.

As a certified wine-industry ‘all-rounder’ his Vintage & Vineyard experience spans through the Adelaide Hills (Shaw + Smith), McLaren Vale (Oliver’s Taranga & Chapel Hill) & Langhorne creek (Bremerton). His broader wine industry experience includes distribution experience across Australia and the U.K and time as a WSET Educator in London.

Declan’s passion lies in the depths and complexities of grapes & vineyards that convey their style and place. His knowledge of various regions, varieties and techniques continues to grow as he undertakes the WSET diploma.

Declan brings a refined palate and worldly knowledge to Forlak Wines, as well as expertise across every step of the process to help bring our wines to life. He is driven by the goal of producing expressive and high quality wines of place, and is inspired by unique wine regions such as Bierzo, The Duoro Valley and Rioja.

Winemaker

Guy Paul's journey into winemaking is deeply rooted in the rural landscapes of Victoria, where he spent his formative years on his family's cattle farm. After pursuing a degree in winemaking in Adelaide, he returned to his familial roots, eager to merge his newfound knowledge with his agricultural upbringing. Alongside his commitments on the family farm, Guy embarked on a transformative vintage at Giaconda, where he refined his skills and absorbed the essence of Victorian winemaking tradition.

Inspired by the distinctive wines of Jura, Guy aspires to infuse his own winemaking endeavors with a blend of authenticity and innovation. Guided by a profound respect for the land and a relentless pursuit of excellence, he aims to craft wines that reflect the unique terroir of his homeland while pushing the boundaries of creativity and expression. With each bottle, Guy Paul invites wine enthusiasts on a journey through the picturesque landscapes of rural Victoria, where tradition meets innovation in every sip.

Design & Marketing

Marissa grew up amidst the vineyards of McLaren Vale, fostering her passion for the industry while working in various roles at her family’s winery, Fox Creek Wines. From direct to consumer sales in the cellar door to back of house work in the warehouse, she got to experience every aspect of winery life. While pursuing a career in wine and hospitality, her journey led her to pursue a degree in Communication Design, where she excelled in graphic design, brand development, and marketing.

Alongside her work with Forlak, she has spent the last 12 years working within hospitality. Now, she spearheads a new city venue, Jumbo. Curating a wine list with a focus on local producers and international picks.

Marissa finds inspiration in innovative approaches to winemaking, drawn to those who push the boundaries and challenge conventions in the industry. From her upbringing in McLaren Vale to her design studies, she has observed the fusion of tradition and innovation in winemaking techniques. This fascination with novel methods fuels her creativity, bringing a fresh perspective to the art of wine branding and marketing.

Winemaker

Surrounded by the wine industry since birth, Maddie’s first taste of vintage came in 2018 when undertook vintage at Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley.

Since then, Maddie has completed her Bachelor’s in viticulture and Oenology, whilst also taking part in vintage in Burgundy (Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey), the Adelaide Hills (Shaw + Smith) and Mclaren Vale (Bekkers & Yangarra). Her experience also spans across the wider wine industry, with hospitality experience (mothervine) and distribution experience for local small batch labels (Elderslie & Quin Wines).

Maddie brings winemaking expertise to Forlak Wines and complements it with her focus on being attentive and thoughtful at every step of the process.

Maddie is driven by the pursuit of producing wine of the highest quality, and believes that it is integral to stay connected to the fruit throughout the growing, production, maturation and eventual distribution of wine. She is inspired by the great Australian wines that she has helped produce, and the fine wines of Burgundy & Bordeaux.

Accountant & Honey Badger

Growing up in Adelaide, Zach’s passion for the wine industry was born through his time in wineries and hospitality and is now channelled through his accounting & advisory work.

10 years of experience in hospitality, including experience at iconic wine venues such as Mothervine and Amalfi’s opened his eyes to the wine industry and helped drive his desire to work a vintage season. In 2020, he undertook his first vintage at Shaw + Smith and hasn’t turned back. In 2021 he returned for his second vintage, eventually meeting Declan and forming the idea to start Forlak Wines with a picking bin of Touriga for Vintage 2022.

Zach’s work in Accounting & Advisory helps him to understand and direct Forlak to continue to grow, whilst staying true to its original vision. He is driven by the goal of producing approachable wines that express creativity and effort that go into small-batch winemaking.