There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes, and the fact that if you’re a wine writer, you’ll write columns about holiday wines. I’ve learned a lot over the years doing this, offering an alarming number of wine options to pair with turkey (this isn’t really a challenge – turkey, being one of the mildest of our feathered friends and roasts, goes with almost everything), with what to pair with everything other than turkey, fine wines for fancy dinners, inexpensive wines for big holidays, the best bubbles for Christmas, everything to drink in the New Year, and much more.

But beyond all the bottle recommendations, I also learned a thing or two about how to serve wine during the holidays and what to avoid. Here are my ten do’s and don’ts for throwing a sommelier-worthy evening, or at the very least, so you don’t run out of wine mid-meal.

What to do

Buy wine by the case

When you buy twelve bottles at a time, you usually get a discount (10% is common) and unlike the shrimp cocktail you serve, unused wine doesn’t go bad. Save whatever is left for the next party. Since most wine stores allow you to build a case of mixed wines, stock up on different styles: a few bottles of everyday red, a food-grade white wine, and a few bottles of champagne will do just fine .

Screw caps make it easier

Consider screw bottles for party wines at affordable prices. Compared to wines sealed with corks that require a corkscrew (and basic knowledge of how to use a corkscrew), screwcap wines are very quick to open. This makes your life as a host easier: you won’t have to spend precious time trying to remember where you put the corkscrew.

Adapt the wine to your guests

When it comes to serving wine to a crowd, know your audience. Even if you like weird, skin-contact, kombucha-tasting white wines Pét-Natsyour beloved, white Zinfandel-loving grandmother definitely isn’t. Vacations are about making people happy, not educating them about your personal tastes.

Rent wine glasses

For big parties, avoid having to store and wash dozens of glasses and rent them from a party supply rental company. They’re delivered before the party, they’re picked up afterward, and you don’t need to wash them (although some companies charge a “dirty return” fee).

Also offer non-alcoholic options

Be sure to offer non-alcoholic options for any guests who are abstaining from alcohol or those looking to mix in something non-alcoholic among the large quantities of wine they consume. Ideally, make it something other than water. Extra seltzers on hand are great, but it’s even better to have a cool, flavorful no-object drink like a Non-alcoholic champagne spritz to serve your cousin who is eight months pregnant.

What not to do

Don’t go overboard with the pairings

Don’t worry about pairing specific wines with specific dishes, especially when there are lots of different foods on the table. Planning ahead and choosing delicious wines that will pair with a wide range of foods will help you stay sane. Remember, this is a Christmas party, not a dinner for wine collectors.

Don’t forget to chill the Champagne

Unless you want to splash your guests/your table/the dog with hot water Champagneremember to chill the bottles of sparkling wine well in advance. Place the bottles in the refrigerator for two hours before serving, in the freezer for 45 minutes (remember they’re there!), or submerge them in a bucket filled half with ice and half with water to chill all extremely quickly. (approximately 20 minutes). Frozen bottles will not foam when opened.

Save the free bottles for later

Don’t worry about serving the bottles of wine that guests bring: you can do that if you want, but it’s not obligatory. A bottle brought by someone is a gift and not an obligation. Conversely, if you bring wine as a gift yourself, don’t be upset if your host doesn’t serve it.

Don’t run out of wine

Calculate how many bottles you actually need based on the number of people coming. Generally speaking, for dinner parties, take the number of guests and divide by two to get the number of bottles you’ll need (assuming two glasses of wine per person, which is the norm). But it’s always a good idea to buy a few extra bottles, just in case.