Wine expert Angela Aiello shares her helpful tips when it comes to wine etiquette.

If you’re new to the wine scene or need to brush up on the rules before a holiday party or a formal dinner, here’s a quick primer on hosting with wine.

Pouring
Fill a wine glass only one-third full so there’s enough room to swirl the wine around and let it breathe, maximizing its short lifespan. That said, investing in proper glassware is important for true appreciation of your wine. While you can have one catch-all glass (preferably with a big bowl), having different glasses for each varietal is fun and fancy.

Serving
If you’re hosting, make sure that guests have wine in their glasses and remember to offer water. Serve the correct amount (never over-pour) and get them to hold their glasses from the stem. For wine tastings, serve from lightest to fullest. Always taste the wine before pouring for guests (or allow one of them to taste) to ensure the wine isn’t off or corked (which can smell and taste like rotted cardboard).

Decanting
Wines that age develop different char acteristics over time. If you want to enjoy a bottle sooner, it’s said that letting your wine sit in a decanter for one hour delivers similar results to aging it for a year. It’s a simple trick: Exposure to oxygen helps release the wine’s taste and aromas. You can decant any full-bodied red wine, as well as full-bodied Chardonnays (which taste better when served at the same temperature as red wine).