Tony Harper, Owner, Craft
Rejoice in what is offered for free instead of worrying about what you don’t have ...
Craft beer and wine boutique opened in Red Hill in early December, unveiling a plethora of new brands to tempt our tastebuds. Focusing on the artisan end of the drinking scale, Craft supports smaller producers, focusing on biodynamic and organic wines and craft beers. Encouraging a cultural move towards a more refined level of drinking, owner Tony Harper says Craft still has a foot in both camps at the moment, offering some of the more mainstream brands of liquor, but hopes to phase this out as people’s palates yearn for a better quality drop that’s also good for the planet. Having worked in restaurants and wine retail for more than 25 years, Tony has forged a career as a prominent wine and food reviewer locally and been the man behind some of Brisbane’s finest food offerings. Now his passion for boutique beers, wines, ciders and spirits from around the world is taking the spotlight in his latest venture. The Weekend Edition caught up with Tony to discover his weekend essentials.
How do you like to start your weekend?
At home! On Friday nights I like to tuck the kids into bed and have dinner with my wife Tanya, a cold beer and maybe a glass of red, then fall asleep in front of a movie. This is if – and this is rare – I have no overdue copy to write. Otherwise it’s that glass of red in front of the laptop with Friday Night Fights in the background.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Take my daughter Amelie for a bushwalk. She loves animals, so we go out seeking snakes, lizards and other creatures.
How do you like to unwind?
Fishing, cooking, boxing, baking sourdough, reading and having a few friends over for Sunday lunch.
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Having no work due so I can relax and spend time with my family instead of staring at the laptop.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Drinking a good barolo.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Sunday is the one day each week when we can regularly eat together, so I like to cook a decent meal and dine as a family.
What are you looking forward to next weekend?
Coming home after three days at the biennial Mornington Peninsula International Pinot Noir Celebration.
What are you reading at the moment?
Citadel by Kate Mosse. It’s decent rather than great, but its setting in the villages of the Midi is spectacular. It’s been kind of fun to read it and then chase the villages on Google Earth and sink into the setting. I’d previously been re-reading a bunch of Jeanette Winterson’s novels, which are terrific.
What inspires you?
Nature in both its calm and its anger. Great music, good food and people who are true to their beliefs … I wish I was more so.
What was your childhood dream?
To be David Bowie. I know that sounds quite lame these days, but I was infatuated.
What has been your greatest achievement?
My children, Amelie and Greyson.
What is success to you?
I don’t really have a measure for success. I guess if I die with the knowledge that my children have the makings of good people, my wife is happy and I’ve done something to make a few lives better, I will feel some measure of success.
What are your words of wisdom?
I can rise tomorrow morning and fret about money, or I can look at the sunshine, listen to the birds and be glad to be alive. Rejoice in what is offered for free instead of worrying about what you don’t have.
Only a local would know … Stomp Espresso at Holland Park is a great spot for coffee. And yes, it is on the southside!
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … at my coffee machine.
Relax … fishing in my boat.
Dine … Near the barbecue. I review restaurants for work, so dining at home is a treat.
Indulge … Noosa Pacific Riverfront Resort. We holiday there each year and it’s my favourite spot on the planet.
Shop … Either Bunnings Warehouse or the Tackle Warehouse. Otherwise I despise shopping.
Catch-up … at the pub.
Be inspired … Brisbane Boxing.
