A seasoned California-based accountant, Kelli Gillam, CPA, has informed tax incentive strategies for various entertainment productions, including feature films. Passionate about wine, Kelli Gillam has also sold quality wines from around the world as the erstwhile owner of Terranova Fine Wines in Monterey.
Less well known than Napa Valley farther north, the Central Coast offers several exceptional wines, with 40,000 acres of vineyards planted across Monterey County. The highlight of the region is the Santa Lucia Highlands, which includes top-tier vineyards such as Mer Soleil, Morgan, Pisoni, and ROAR.
The Monterey AVA also encompasses the Carmel Valley and Salinas Valley, which are rich in loamy soils and enjoy a relatively cool climate, thanks to their proximity to the coast. The climate is typically in the 65-degree range and avoids the extremes of daytime heat and nighttime cold of areas farther inland. This makes the region ideal for pinot noir and other grapes with thin, delicate skins susceptible to wilting.
