Shelves: DIY Wine Caddy with Glass Holder

It’s picnic season! And summers in the DMV (Washington, DC) area are always filled with outdoor concerts and festivals, encouraging attendees and guests to lounge and set up these fabulous picnic sites, eating all sorts of delectable food and drink LOTS of wine. I myself enjoy going to outdoor concerts with my girlfriends in the summer and bringing food and wine. If you’re a wine lover and you enjoy going to outdoor events as well, or simply lounging on your patio with a guest enjoying your favorite glass of wine, this is the perfect project for you. This DIY project makes it super easy to carry your favorite bottle of wine and two wine glasses to the picnic or outside to your patio. And while wine caddies are great for entertaining, these also make the perfect handmade gifts. Handmade gifts often make the best gifts because of the thought and effort put into the craft. These are also inexpensive costing less than $10.

OK you know the deal people, Let’s Get Dirty!

Materials

1″x 4″x 6″
3/4″ x 36″ wooden dowel
1″ x 2″ x 6″
1 1/4″ nails
Wood Glue

Cut List

1 – 1×4 @3 3/4″ (Bottom)
2 – 1×4 @ 15 1/2″ (Sides)
2 – 1×4 @3 1/2″ (Stem shelves)
4 – 1×2 @5 1/4″ (Slats)
1 – 3/4″ dowel @ 4 1/4″ (Handle)

Tools

Drill
3/4″Spade Drill Bit
Hand Saw
Hammer
Sander
Jig saw

Step 1. Start off by sanding down the cut wood pieces. This makes the process a lot smoother in the end….literally. I hate having to vigorously sand down a completed piece because I failed to sand down the wood in the beginning. I would also recommend pre-staining or painting the wood prior to getting started but this is totally optional.

Step 2. Cut the side profile of the side panels by turning the miter saw at 45 degrees and extending the each panel to the 1.5″ mark on the miter saw gauge.

Step 3. Drill the 2 holes for the handle into the side panels about 1/2″ deep with the 3/4″ spade. To gauge if you’ve drilled down far enough the width when you attach the sides to the handle should be 5 1/4.”

Step 4. Prepare the stem shelves. You will be making a key hole cut to create the stem shelf. Clamp the board to your work station and drill into the piece with the 3/4″ spade bit. Then using a jig saw or band saw cut into the piece toward the opening created by the spade bit.

Step 5. Next Attach the stemware shelves to the opposite sides of the side panels. Start by marking down 5 1/2″ from the top of the side panel.

Draw a line across the panel to align the stem shelves evenly on both sides. Glue the the stem shelves just under the line and reinforce with a brad nailer.

Step 6. Now its smooth sailing from here. Attach the bottom to the two sides using wood glue and reinforcing with brad nails. Then glue and nail in place the handle.

Step 7. Finally attach the side slats spacing the bottom and top slats 3/4″ apart. Attach using wood glue and brad nails.

Step 8. Fill the nails holes with wood filler and sand with a medium to fin sanding paper.

Step 9. You are all set to touch up the paint or stain. I love this part of the project because where you can go from here is limitless.

Now go and enjoy that next glass of wine or sparkling cider knowing that you made this beautiful wine carrier. Show off your skills as the hostess with the mostess by showing up to your next BBQ or outdoor function or picnic with your wine caddy.

Till Next Time! ~T.