How to make your own wine storage unit

When it comes to storing wine, your options are as varied as the drink itself – ranging from the full-bodied and expensive wine cupboard to the versatile modular units to the cheap and cheerful plonk options of a frame with customised guttering. There are plenty of DIY wine storage manuals available, but this one is a little special.

Everyone enjoys a drop of wine nowadays – from welders to bankers, wine is a favourite tipple. But where do we put all those bottles that we buy? For those who want to store their wine but are tight on space, this design shows you how to build a nifty little unit that can hold eight bottles of wine while tucking itself away neatly under a kitchen cupboard. It looks sleek, only uses dead space, and is relatively straightforward to make. Get your Bosch tool kit at the ready and let’s go for it…

Tools you will need

• Mitre and table saw
• Power sander
• Drill/driver with bits
• Clamps
• Hammer and nails
• Tape measure
• Paintbrush and paint

Parts you will make

• Dividers (9 pieces)
  ½ x 4” wood cut to ½ x 3½ x 11¾”
• Top and bottom (2 pieces)
  ¾” plywood cut to ¾ x 11¾ x 32½”
• Back (1 piece)
  ¼” plywood cut to ¼ x 5 x 32½”

Instructions

Cut your parts

First, cut your parts and sand them down if required. Prime and paint your dividers before assembly.

Create the compartments

Position the dividers evenly between the top and bottom – you can get an even spacing by using a divider as a ‘spacer’. The dividers will fit from side to side, creating eight compartments. Mark their positions using a pencil and firmly fix using glue and nails. Next, attach the back to your unit using glue and nails and leave to dry.

Fit to your cabinet or shelf

Determine the depth of the recessed area under the cabinet or shelf – your unit wants to fit tight to the front of the cupboard or shelf to which it is fitted. Attach your unit to the bottom of the cabinet or shelf using glue and screws – make sure you use appropriately sized screws.

Finish your unit off

Finally, fill any holes with stainable wood filler, sand, prime and paint. Allow to dry and stock your wine. There are stemware holders available that can be attached with screws to the bottom of your unit to hold wine glasses upside down, meaning a quick drink is never far away!

Enjoy your new wine storage unit responsibly!