This project was built and designed by Stan Sullivan. It’s a wall-mounted wine and beer rack that blends practical storage with a bold, rustic finish using traditional Japanese wood-burning techniques.
With separate spaces for wine bottles, hanging glasses, and collectible beer bottles, Stan’s design is both versatile and visually striking. Whether you’re a sports fan, a wine lover, or both, this piece brings style and function into one clean, handmade display.
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Preparing the Boards for Joinery
The build begins with selecting and preparing solid wood boards. Stan uses edge-gluing to create wider panels, followed by jointing and flattening to get clean surfaces and square edges.
Once the panels are prepped, he moves to the miter saw to cut each piece to length. Accurate cuts at this stage are essential for keeping the final assembly tight and aligned.
Creating Custom Bottle and Glass Holders
One side of the rack is designed to store wine bottles horizontally. Stan uses a drill press with a Forstner bit to cut circular openings that cradle each bottle’s neck. He measures carefully to keep everything centered and balanced.
Below the wine bottle holders, angled slots are added to hang wine glasses by their stems. Stan uses an angle finder to set the cut direction, ensuring that glasses hang securely without tilting or shifting.
On the opposite side, the rack includes shelf space for beer bottles or glasses. It’s a more open layout designed to fit items of varying sizes, including collector’s bottles or casual drinkware.
Gluing and Reinforcing the Frame
With the components ready, Stan assembles the rack using glue and dowels. This combination provides strong joints without visible screws or brackets.
Once everything is clamped together, he allows the glue to dry fully. Dowels are trimmed flush to the surface, and the entire structure is sanded smooth before finishing.
Adding a Base and Backing
The base of the rack is built from glued-up boards trimmed to fit and squared using a table saw. It serves as both a structural anchor and a visual foundation for the piece.
Stan softens the edges with hand sanding to improve the tactile feel and remove any sharp corners. These finishing touches elevate the look without adding complexity to the build.
Applying the Shou Sugi Ban Finish
One of the most distinctive parts of this project is the Shou Sugi Ban treatment. Stan chars the surface of the wood using a propane torch, darkening the grain and adding a layer of weather resistance.
After charring, the wood is lightly brushed and sanded to even out the texture and bring out contrast. This step reveals beautiful grain patterns and gives the wood a textured, aged look.
To seal the surface, Stan applies several coats of protective finish, locking in the color and enhancing durability. The result is a rich, smoky tone that’s hard to replicate with stains or paint.
Prepping for Wall Mounting
To hang the rack securely, Stan routes keyhole slots into the back using a keyhole router bit. This allows the rack to be mounted flush to the wall using standard drywall anchors or screws.
This hardware-free mounting approach keeps the focus on the design itself, giving the final piece a clean, floating appearance on the wall.
Tips for Customizing Your Rack
Stan’s design is easy to adjust for your own preferences. The wine bottle cutouts can be resized to fit different bottle types. The glass holders can be modified to accommodate larger stems or even champagne flutes.
Instead of Shou Sugi Ban, you could apply a traditional stain or paint finish depending on your space and style. Plywood is also an option if you want to reduce cost or weight while still maintaining a clean look.
Adding small hooks or extra shelving could make the piece even more functional as a full bar or beverage station. The layout is flexible and can easily be adapted to different wall spaces.
A Conversation Piece That Works
This wine and beer rack goes beyond basic storage—it adds personality to your room. With bold lines, smart joinery, and a custom finish, it stands out as a handmade feature worth showing off.
Whether you build it as a gift or for your own home, it’s a satisfying project with a great balance of challenge and reward. The combination of modern function with rustic technique gives it a timeless appeal.
Get Stan’s plans here: https://www.simplyeasydiy.com/2016/06/diy-wine-rack.html.