As we approach the official start of the holiday season, let us give thanks for well-made, well-priced wines.

Here are four wines from California that fit the bill, bottles you will want to keep on hand from Thanksgiving through dinner on New Year’s Day — and beyond.

At our Thanksgiving table, I like to serve a red and a white. Educated Guess 2010 Chardonnay, from Roots Run Deep Winery in the Napa Valley, offers crisp acidity and fresh fruit, without oaky overtones. Expect creamy notes of vanilla and toast that are a good match with apple stuffing and green salad. MSRP: $17.

I often serve Pinot Noir with turkey and Garnet 2010 Monterey County is a fine one, with tones of clove, coffee and juniper berries and fat, juicy notes of blackberry and raspberry. Pass the gravy, please. And the cornbread and strawberry preserves. You can pour this palate pleaser for less than $15.

When you have devoured the last of the leftover turkey, uncork Educated Guess 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, a big red that pairs well with beef. Expect blackberry and chocolate-covered cherries, vanilla and a whiff of mint, with a price tag of less than $20.

At Layer Cake, the winemaker’s goal is to make reds that taste like a $50 bottle but cost $20 or less. Layer Cake 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon serves up silky blackberry and cherry
flavors, with a dusting of cocoa. With its ruby color and elegant finish, it tastes expensive. But it’s not, so you can readily indulge in treating your guests. MSRP: $15.99.