How to Make Your Own Wine Rack

How to Build a Countertop Wine Rack

Follow the steps below to build a countertop wine rack that is simple yet beautiful and can hold eight bottles of wine.

1. Cut Boards

   Cut the 1x6 into four pieces measuring 13-1/2 inches and two pieces measuring 9-1/2 inches.

2. Mark Grooves

   In each 13-1/2" board, two grooves will be removed, allowing all four boards to be pressed together to form a tic-tac-toe shape. To mark the grooves, measure and mark lines along one side at 4 inches, 4-3/4 inches, 8-3/4 inches, and 9-1/2 inches.

   Use a speed square to extend each mark to the middle of the board. Each line should measure 2-3/4 inches because a 1x6 has an actual width of 5-1/2 inches.
   

3. Cut Out Grooves

   Use a jigsaw or bandsaw to carefully and precisely cut along each 2-3/4-inch line. To remove the wood from the groove, use a hammer and chisel placed at the middle of the board.

4. Test Fit Boards

   Slide a scrap piece of 3/4-inch material into each groove to ensure enough material has been removed. If the fit is too tight, remove a small amount of material until it fits. The goal is to create a snug fit.

5. Sand All Surfaces

   Sand all surfaces until smooth, removing any splinters left when cutting.

6. Stain and Seal All Boards (optional)

   If you plan to stain the wine rack, do so before assembly. A clear sealant may be applied as well. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when applying stains and sealants. When staining pine, always use a pre-stain wood conditioner for a more even finish.

7. Assemble Wine Rack

   Place a small dab of wood glue in each joint and slide the pieces together. You may have to use a rubber mallet if the fit is tight. Wipe away any excess glue.

   Attach Side Pieces

   Attach the two 9-1/2 inch boards to each side using wood glue and a brad nailer.

   Warning

   Use caution when using brad nailers as the nails can easily exit the wood. Always wear eye protection and keep hands away from the end of the brad nailer.

8. Fill With Wine

   Once assembled, fill the countertop wine rack with your favorite wines.

How to Build a Cellar-Style Wine Rack

Follow the steps below to build a cellar-style wine rack that holds five full cases of wine and can be modified to hold even more.

1. Cut Furring Strips

   The vertical frame members will be made out of 1x2 furring strips. To make them, cut 1x2s into 12 47-inch pieces.

2. Cut Rungs

   Each vertical frame piece will resemble a ladder with rungs that hold the bottles in place. To make the rungs, cut 3/4-inch square dowels into 60 11-inch pieces.

   Tip

   To make quick work of cutting out all 60 rungs and ensure precise-length cuts, place a wooden stop on your miter saw at 11 inches using a clamp. This way, you can slide the square dowel against the stop and cut without having to measure each time.

3. Cut Horizontal Supports

   The horizontal supports will also be made with 1x2 furring strips. Cut six supports to a length of 25-3/4 inches.

4. Sand All Boards

   Sand all boards until smooth, removing all splinters left behind from cutting.

5. Assemble the Ladders

   To assemble a "ladder", start by laying two 47-inch furring strips side by side approximately 11 inches apart. Place the first rung across the two strips, spaced 1-1/2" from the bottom, and flush on each side.

   Once you're satisfied with the positioning, place a dab of wood glue on each side of the joint and brad nail the rung in place. Repeat this process with the remaining rungs, leaving 3-1/4 inches between each rung until you reach the final rung. Place the final rung flush with the end of the boards. This will make the last gap exactly 4 inches. To make spacing the rungs more efficient, cut a scrap piece of wood to 3-1/4 inches and use it as a spacer.

   Once finished, flip the ladder over and repeat the process on the other side, mirroring the first side. Leave two ladders only one-sided, as these will serve as the outside pieces.

6. Stain and Seal All Boards (optional)

   If you plan to stain the wine rack, do so after assembling the ladders but before final assembly. A clear sealant may be applied as well. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when applying stains and sealants. When staining pine, always use a pre-stain wood conditioner for a more even finish.

7. Connect the Ladders

   To assemble the wine rack, first, attach the two top and two bottom support pieces to the outside ladders (rungs facing inward). While this is much easier with a helper, it can be done with one person.

   The supports will sit on the outside of the ladders, flush with the top and bottom. Place the supports in position and hold the frame together with trigger clamps.

   Predrill and screw through the supports into the ladders using two 2-inch wood screws at each joint.
   

   Tip

   If you wish to hide the screw heads, drill pilot holes using a countersink bit and finish with wood plugs or wood filler.

8. Add Remaining Ladders

   The inside ladders will be connected to the supports with 2-3/4 inches of space between the rungs. To make the process easier, cut a piece of scrap board to a length of 2-3/4 inches to be used as a spacer. Screw to the supports following the same method as the outside ladders.

9. Attach Additional Back Supports

   Screw the two remaining support pieces to the back of the wine rack equidistant from the top and bottom.

10. Attach to Wall Using Furniture Anchors

    For the safety of little ones and pets as well as to protect your wine collection, attach the wine rack to a wall using furniture anchors before filling with your favorite wines.

11. Fill With Wine

    The cellar-style rack is meant to be filled with a display bottle on top and the remaining 11 bottles from the case stashed below.

How to Modify a Cellar-Style Rack

The cellar-style rack can easily be modified to fit any space, even stretching wall to wall or floor to ceiling for a true wine cellar look. Simply add more ladders across and increase the height of the ladders. For every 12 to 18 inches of height added, add a support piece along the back. Additionally, the larger you make it, the more anchoring it will need to ensure it is safe.