This study demonstrates the successful fabrication of mesoscale 1D and 2D surface periodic structured (patterned) silica-zirconia sol–gel thin films with high fidelity and relatively large area by soft lithography using commercially available compact disc (CD) as a master. A precursor sol (viscosity, 2.5 cP) of 7 : 3 silica to zirconia weight ratio, in low boiling mixed solvents (1-propanol and 2-butanol) with acetylacetone was used for thin film formation on pure silica glass by a dip coating technique. From the sols rheological properties, we calculated the 1D sol height in a groove of a 1D negative replica of CD in a polydimethyl siloxane stamp and compared it with the experimental peak height of the 1D gel pattern. External pressure was applied and optimized on a 1D pattern film for obtaining a high fidelity 2D pattern. The amorphous nature, visible transmittance, chemical bond vibration, thermal weight loss behaviour, physical thickness and refractive index of the films were also characterized. To tailor the water wetting behaviour of films in terms of static water contact angle values, the type of pattern (1D or 2D) was found to be a guiding factor. In addition, the transformation from a hydrophobic to hydrophilic film surface was found to depend on the film curing temperature. This observation was explained on the basis of the films root mean square surface roughness. The rigorously studied patterned films can be used in optics and microelectronics.