Wine Bottle & Two-Glass Caddy (Beginner Plan) — Dimensions, Jig, Finishing, Pricing & Wholesale Guide

Build time: ~1 hour (plus finish cure)
Difficulty: Beginner
Average selling price: €22–€38 ($25–$42)
Perfect for: Couples, wedding gifts, winery partnerships, host gifts

Why This Project Sells

• Instant story: “Carry a bottle and two glasses in one hand.” It demos itself on a booth bottle—no explaining.
• Giftable & romantic: Perfect for weddings, anniversaries, new homes, date nights.
• Compact & photogenic: Easy to stage in markets and on Etsy thumbnails.
• Batchable: Simple jigging turns this into a reliable €300–€600 per show earner.
• Wholesale-ready: Wineries love branded add-ons that ride with their bottle sales.

Download free printable wine caddy templates PDF

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Final Dimensions & Layout

Overall blank:

• 460 × 100 × 19 mm (18 × 4 × ¾″)

Bottle-neck hole (centered):

• Ø 38–44 mm (1½–1¾″) — choose based on local bottle collars; test on a typical 750 ml bottle.

Glass keyholes (one near each end):

• Stem capture hole: Ø 25–30 mm (1–1¼″)
• Slot width: 6–8 mm (¼–5⁄16″) — enough to pass stem but not rattle.
• Edge margin: Keep 10–12 mm (⅜–½″) of material around holes for strength.

Aesthetics (optional but recommended):

• Corner radius: 12–25 mm (½–1″)
• Gentle waist curve: ~3–5 mm (⅛–3⁄16″) per side near center to soften the rectangle.
• Edge roundover: 2–3 mm (3⁄32–⅛″) or a small ⅛″ round-over bit.

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Materials, Tools & Cut List

Hardwoods (1 board makes multiple): walnut, maple, cherry, white oak.
Optional: leather thong (for hanging), branding iron or laser engraving.

Finishes (pick one):

• Hardwax oil (fast, one-coat convenience, natural feel)
• Wipe-on oil/poly blend (durable & beginner-friendly)
• Pure oil (needs more coats; warm glow)

Tools:

• Drill press + Forstner bits: 38–44 mm and 25–30 mm
• Jigsaw or bandsaw (to cut the keyhole slot)
• Router (small round-over bit) or sanding block to ease edges
• Files/rasps for slot refinement; 120/180/220 grit abrasives
• Center punch/awl, ruler, compass/beam for centering; clamps; backer board

Cut list (per caddy):

• 1 × hardwood blank: 460 × 100 × 19 mm (18 × 4 × ¾″)
• 1 × leather thong (optional): ~200 mm (8″)
• Finish: ~5–10 ml (¼–½ tbsp)

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Step-by-Step Build (With Pro Tips)

Step 1 — Prep & Layout (5–10 min)

• Mill your blank to 460×100×19 mm. Plane or sand flat so it sits cleanly on a bottle shoulder.
• Strike a centerline lengthwise to keep hole placement symmetrical.
• Lightly ease corners first (prevents chip-out during drilling).
• Mark centers for the bottle hole (mid-length, mid-width) and each stem hole (near ends; keep edge margins).

Pro tip: If your stock has figure/sap, orient the best face up—this will be the “hero” side for photos.

Step 2 — Drill the Bottle Hole (5 min)

• Clamp to the drill-press table over a scrap backer to avoid blow-out.
• Bore with a sharp 38–44 mm Forstner; peck to clear chips; don’t overheat.
• Test fit on a standard bottle. Aim for an easy slide without wobble.
• Lightly chamfer both edges (top + bottom) to resist chipping.

Step 3 — Drill Stem Holes & Cut Keyholes (10–15 min)

• From each end, mark the stem-hole centers so the glasses hang balanced and don’t clash with the bottle shoulder.
• Drill Ø 25–30 mm holes.
• From the outer edge, saw a narrow slot into each hole to form the keyhole; refine with files so stems slide smoothly.
• Maintain 10–12 mm of material around holes for strength.

Step 4 — Profile, Roundover & Sand (10–15 min)

• Add a gentle waist curve if desired.
• Break all edges with a 2–3 mm round-over or sanding block.
• Sand all faces 120 → 180 → 220 grit; spend extra time smoothing slot lips.

Step 5 — Finish & Accessorize (10 min active)

• Wipe on hardwax oil (or oil/poly).
• Let cure per label, then buff to a soft sheen.
• Optional: Drill a small hole for a leather thong to hang on a hook.
• Add branding/monogram (see Section 7).

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Batch-Production Jigs (Turn 1 Into 20)

A) Drill-press fence & stop block:

• Screw a straight fence to your table.
• Add two flip stops: one for bottle-hole center, one for stem-hole centers.
• Mark your bit depths; use a backer board to prevent tear-out.

B) Keyhole slotting jig (bandsaw or jigsaw):

• Make a U-shaped sled with a side guide; clamp the blank consistently to saw clean, centered slots.

C) Router round-over station:

• Mount a trim router inverted or on a small table.
• Use featherboards/hold-downs for safer, consistent edge breaks.

D) Sanding stack:

• Pre-tear sheets (120/180/220).
• Keep a foam block for slot lips and a soft pad for faces to avoid flat spots.

Throughput reality: After dialing jigs, most makers hit 6–10 units/hour pre-finish.

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Sanding & Finishing Schedules

Natural-matte (hardwax oil):

1. Sand to 180–220.
2. Wipe a thin, even coat; wait per label.
3. Buff lightly with a clean cloth/pad.

Warm satin (wipe-on oil/poly):

1. Sand to 220.
2. Apply thin coat; dry; denib with 320.
3. Apply second thin coat; optional third for higher sheen.

Notes: This item isn’t for food contact; prioritize feel + durability where hands/glass contact.

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Personalization, Branding & Upsells

• Monograms/dates (weddings, housewarmings).
• Winery logo (laser/branding iron) for wholesale.
• Bundle ideas: pair with a small cheese board to create a €65–€95 gift set; offer a gift sleeve or ribbon.
• Wood species options: walnut (lux), maple (bright), cherry (warm), oak (rustic).

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Quality Checks, Safety & Common Mistakes

QC checklist

• Bottle hole: smooth, easy slide; no wobble.
• Stem slots: stems pass without forcing; edges silky.
• No chip-out; finish even; no glue/finish nibs.

Mistakes to avoid

• Tight keyholes: Glass stems vary; 25–30 mm hole + 6–8 mm slot is the safe zone.
• Thin edges: Keep ≥10–12 mm around all holes.
• Tear-out: Always backer-board under Forstner bits.
• Harsh edges: Uncomfortable to hold; always round over.

Safety

• Clamp stock at the drill press; no free-hand.
• Eye/hearing protection; dust control when sanding.
• Keep fingers clear of jigsaw/bandsaw path; use a hold-down.

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Pricing, Profit & Simple Calculator

Typical retail: €22–€38 (species & personalization move you upmarket).
Wholesale: 40–50% of retail, with MOQ (e.g., 20 units), paid N/30 or prepay.

Example unit cost (walnut, batch of 20):

• Wood (yielded blanks): ~€3.00–€4.50
• Finish + consumables: ~€0.60–€1.20
• Packaging (kraft sleeve/tissue): ~€0.40–€0.80
• Material total: ~€4.00–€6.50
• Labor target: 8–12 minutes each (after jigging)

Profit snapshot (retail at €32):

• Revenue: €32
• Material: €5.50 (midpoint)
• Gross before labor/overhead: €26.50
• If you value labor at €30/h and you average 6 units/h (10 min each): labor €5.00 → Net ≈ €21.50/unit before booth fees.

Quick formula:
Net ≈ Price − (Material + LaborRate × Minutes/60)

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Wholesale to Wineries (Playbook)

• Offer tiers: plain | branded | branded + monogram.
• Pricing: MSRP €32 → wholesale €16–€19; add €2–€4 upcharge for engraving.
• MOQ: 20–50 units; lead time 2–3 weeks.
• Samples: deliver 3 species with their logo.
• Display: provide a demo bottle and a mini display card: “Carry a bottle & two glasses in one hand.”
• Reorders: suggest seasonal species and matching gift bundles.

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Listing Copy, Photos & Etsy SEO

Product title (≤140 chars):
Wine Bottle & Two-Glass Caddy — Walnut/Maple | Romantic Date-Night Holder | Personalized Wedding/Host Gift | Handmade Wood

5 bullet highlights:

• Carry bottle + 2 glasses in one hand
• Hand-finished hardwood (walnut/maple/cherry)
• Smooth keyholes fit most stemware
• Optional monogram/date or winery logo
• Gift-ready packaging; ships fast

13 Etsy tags: wine glass caddy, wine bottle holder, date night gift, wedding gift personalized, host gift, winery gift, anniversary gift, wooden wine caddy, wine party accessory, stemware holder, wine night, handmade walnut, maple home bar

Photos you need:

1. Hero on a dark bottle with two glasses (lifestyle).
2. Close-up of keyhole slot lip (smoothness).
3. Top-down of bottle hole chamfer.
4. Species lineup (walnut/maple/cherry).
5. Hand-in-use shot (the promise: one-hand carry).
6. Personalization example (initials/date).
7. Packaging (kraft sleeve/tissue) = giftable cue.

Alt-text ideas:

• “Walnut wine bottle caddy holding two glasses by their stems”
• “Handmade wooden wine caddy with bottle-neck center hole”
• “Close-up of smooth keyhole slot for wine glass stems”
• “Monogrammed maple wine and glass holder gift”
• “Wine date night caddy carrying two glasses in one hand”

Listing description opener (conversion-ready):
Carry a bottle and two glasses in one hand—instant date-night vibes. This handmade hardwood caddy slides over the bottle’s neck and captures two stems securely. Choose walnut, maple, or cherry and add a monogram or date for the perfect wedding or host gift. Finished silky-smooth; gift-ready packaging included.

Download free printable wine caddy templates PDF (A4 + Letter)

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Variations & Upgrades

• Silhouette: straight, waisted, soft-oval ends, art-deco curve.
• Double-bottle bar caddy: wider blank; center bottle hole + two stem pairs.
• Inlay stripe: thin contrasting strip (maple in walnut).
• Brass eyelet at the thong hole for a premium touch.
• Engraved patterns (vines, hearts, initials) with laser or CNC.

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Booth & Photo Staging (what gets clicks)

• Always display on a dark bottle with two glasses attached—function is obvious at a glance.
• Shoot a hand-carry photo; that’s the social-media winner.
• Use a clean wood background + soft side light; angle 20–30° for subtle highlights.
• Include a species lineup photo for choice anchoring (people love picking “their” wood).

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Sales Copy You Can Use (for cards, site, and Etsy)

Carry a bottle and two glasses in one hand.
A silky-smooth hardwood caddy that slips over the bottle neck and gently holds both stems. Romantic, compact, and gift-ready. Personalize with initials or a date for weddings and anniversaries.

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You’re ready to build & sell

This plan is intentionally batch-friendly and market-ready: clear dimensions, forgiving fits, premium finish feel, and easy wholesale. Keep the copy tight, the staging obvious, and the price confident—and these will move.

FAQs

Best wishes,

Alexander.

@ Wooden Projects That Sells

FREE Templates Download