Friends of Provider
A Chat With Clinton From Five Leaves Left Hobart
30 October, 2025
Books and wine, what a combo! What made you want to blend these two things together?
Basically, I have wanted to work with books in some capacity for a very long time. I knew I would only be happy selling books that I was interested in which would not be a very good business model so I figured I’d combine it with booze, which I have been involved in for many years.
Focusing on wine was what made the most sense as the book and wine connection has been around for a long time and I prefer to drink wine over anything else. As with the books, I only wanted to sell wine that excited me so that’s why I only sell lo-fi / natural wine.
What brought you to Hobart?
I was born in Sydney and had lived there my whole life so it was time for a change. I’d been to Hobart a few times prior and had always had a great feeling about the city.
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Perfect combo.02
Books + Wine.Who is your favourite writer?
I could never pick one but a few of my favourites would be Frederick Barthelme, Patrick deWitt, Siri Hustvedt. This list would change weekly!
What are you reading at the moment? And what wine are you enjoying with it.
I’m just about to finish ’Since the Accident’ by Jen Craig. One of my favourite Australian authors. I’ve recently been enjoying the wines from Ve d’Avior which is a winery located in Mallorca.
"90% of the books on my shelves are there because I want to read them!"
What is your favourite book?
Again, way too hard to pick just one but a few that spring straight to mind would be ‘What We Talk About When We Talk About Love’ by Raymond Carver, ‘Elect Mr Robinson for a Better World’ by Donald Antrim, ‘Geek Love’ by Katherine Dunn.
You have a unique wine selection, with all the options being lofi/low intervention. Where did your interest in natural wines come from?
I remember the first time I tried a Georgian orange wine, I’d never had anything like it and I was hooked instantly.
You also have a unique style in authors - how do you select the novels that find their way onto your shelves?
90% of the books on my shelves are there because I want to read them! Apart from that, my focus is on smaller, independent publishing houses that champion writers who actually have something to say.
What is your favourite thing to do in Hobart?
My absolute favourite thing to do here is to go walking through the mountains that surround Hobart listening to music.
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Great book selection.04
Find a wine to match your book mood."The shop is really just a reflection of all the things I love"
'Five Leaves Left’ is a Nick Drake album. Can you tell us about the connection?
So with the name I always wanted it to be related to music as music is my first love. The shop is really just a reflection of all the things I love, everything that has shaped me is represented in the shop in some way so obviously books and wine but also skateboarding, graffiti and with music being so important to me I wanted the name to reflect that. Five Leaves Left I felt was a perfect match for a wine & book shop.
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Find your new favourite.06
Clinton.Visit Five Leaves Left
Ground Floor, Shop 2/41-43 Victoria St, Hobart TAS 7000