Engineering mind.
Winemaking passion.
Sales expertise.
Wineries are complex places. From the cellar to the bottling line, small inefficiencies can cost big - in time, money, and quality. That’s where I come in.
I’m Radek Petlak, and I’ve built Efficient Winery to do one thing: help wineries work smarter. With more than 30 years of experience across engineering, winemaking, and technical sales, I bring a perspective that is unbiased and rare to find in this industry.
A unique path
I started as a mechanical engineer, but it wasn’t long before wine took over. I retrained in Wine Science and spent a number of years making wine in Australia & USA.
It was during this period that I started to identify the need to improve efficiencies in the winery environment. It became clear to me how much efficiency or inefficiency shapes the outcome.
From there, I moved into sales and leadership, managing teams and later leading Wine Energy as General Manager. Wherever I worked, my focus was the same: find smarter ways to run, improve workflow, and deliver better results without unnecessary cost.
I saw a gap in the industry.
Wineries were left to figure things out on their own or rely on advice from suppliers with something to sell. There was no one offering straightforward, unbiased efficiency advice.
That’s why Efficient Winery exists: to give wineries a simpler way forward, with clarity, common sense and practical solutions - without commissions, kickbacks, or noise.
Staying ahead
I make it my job to keep on top of the latest technologies and industry research, reading technical articles in print and online so you don’t have to.
Along with staying across equipment developments, I also keep up to date with all Government and industry grants. These opportunities are regularly available, but many wineries don’t realise until it’s too late and miss out.
Most winemakers and business owners don’t have time to dive into this level of detail, but it’s another way I bring added value to every project.
Why work with me
What sets me apart is the rare mix I bring:
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Engineering know-how
a logical approach to systems and flow
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Winemaking experience
first-hand understanding of cellar challenges
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Technical Sales expertise
clarity on equipment without supplier bias
This combination means I can look at a winery from every angle: practical, technical, and operational, to find straightforward ways to make things run more efficiently.
It starts with a chat
Every winery is different. Let’s talk about what will make yours run better.