The Faces Behind the Names.
At Township 7, our wines are a testament to both the exceptional vineyards they originate from and the passionate individuals who craft them. With decades of skill, artistry, and innovation, our team is committed to producing extraordinary wines from renowned vineyards.
Mike Raffan
General Manager
A veteran restaurateur, with over two decades in the hospitality industry, Mike has been passionate about wine all of his working life. Since 2006 he has managed all aspects of the winery’s operations overseeing the growth of Township 7 with the expansion of both wine shops, an increase in production, and evolution of the winery to more small lot single vineyard wines. He has been involved in many industry associations including the BC Wine Grape Council, the executive of the Naramata Bench Winery Association, the Board of the BC Wine Institute, and advisor to the BC Wine Authority. Born and raised on the north shore of Vancouver, he enjoys the outdoor lifestyle and can be found in his spare time cycling, hiking or paddle boarding.
Mary McDermott
Winemaker
Winemaker, Sommelier, Explorer. Mary’s wine journey began as a Sommelier at Niagara’s fine dining restaurant, Inn on the Twenty, while finishing her Bachelor of Science in Oenology and Viticulture at Brock University. Obtaining her first taste of winemaking, she landed at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s prestigious Stratus Vineyards as Cellar hand and then assistant cellarmaster at Cave Spring Cellars. Soon thereafter, Mary joined Niagara’s premier winery family, Peller Estates premium wineries; Trius Winery at Hillebrand and Thirty Bench as their winemaker. A desire to pursue a lifelong dream of crafting quality wines in the picturesque Okanagan Valley prompted Mary’s move in 2014 to B.C.’s renowned Naramata Bench as winemaker for Township 7 Vineyards & Winery. Now with multiple vineyards to oversee, two locations for Township 7, and many small lot wines to craft, Mary is a calm and collected wealth of winemaking knowledge. She believes winemaking starts in the vineyard and works closely with our viticulture team recognizing the nuances of each site. She and her husband are intrepid travelers, having visited wine regions across the globe. Fittingly, Mary’s wine philosophy: each bottle should take you somewhere, and express where it came from.
Devon Villard
Assistant Winemaker
Originally hailing from Ontario cottage country, Devon’s journey to winemaking has not followed the standard script. He joined Township 7 three years ago, first as our Naramata Tasting Room Manager and then transitioning to Cellar hand to learn the craft of winemaking. With a multifaceted background in pro snowboarding, rock climbing, photography and film, his perspective on making a good wine is like that of making a good movie, requiring a lot of hard work and just the right balance of science and creativity. Along the road to wine, saw him complete WSET Level 3, start a wine club, write a wine blog and earn his certification in Enology at Washington State University. In his free time when not taking pictures or editing film shorts, Devon can be found in the beautiful Okanagan outdoors back country skiing in the winter and playing disc golf in the summer.
South Langley
Erica McCarthy
Vineyard Supervisor (South Langley)
Erica was born and raised in Langley. One summer, after a wine tour in the Okanagan, she was fascinated by the idea of the wine industry. She eventually took her WSET Level 1. After applying to some of the wineries in the Fraser Valley, she was excited to have the opportunity to join Township 7 Vineyards & Winery. She started in May of 2019 in the Langley tasting room and, after two seasons, transitioned to the Langley vineyard. She is currently taking her Viticulture Certification at WSU. You’ll usually catch her out in the vines with her dogs Frankie & Gus or her daughters Devyn and Austyn “helping.”
South Langley
Cody Karman
Tasting Room Manager
Hailing from the beautiful province of British Columbia, Cody brings a dynamic mix of hospitality expertise and a flair for communications. With a passion for B.C. wines, he’s spent years connecting with guests as a server and bartender, all while soaking in their unique stories. A self-proclaimed “hidden nerd,” Cody was the computer geek in school, and that techie spirit has propelled him into the world of digital marketing. With over ten years of experience in website development, digital relations, and email marketing, he combines his IT savvy with a deep passion for wine at Township 7. When he’s not geeking out or sharing wine knowledge, Cody is likely gaming, catching a movie, or hanging out with his husband and their two dogs and cat. Drop by our South Langley winery — Cody can’t wait to meet you and share his love for wine and great conversation!
South Langley & Naramata Bench
Kristina Diack-Trotzuk
Wine Club Supervisor
A Fraser Valley native with a deep-rooted passion for wine, Kristina Trotzuk’s career in the wine industry dates back to 2018. Her journey started after several years of diverse experience in sales, customer service, leadership, and education across various industries.
In 2021, she had the opportunity to join Township 7, working in our south Langley tasting room, where her vibrant personality and unwavering positivity made her an integral part of our success. Kristina’s dedication to wine is further evident in her pursuit of knowledge, as she recently achieved her WSET Level 1 certification and is now on the path to completing WSET Level 2.
When she’s not immersed in the world of wine, Kristina can be found experiencing the beauty of nearby Crescent Beach with her husband. We welcome you to visit and savour a glass of wine with her and the other members of our hospitality team.
Naramata Bench
Kelsey Zimmerman
Tasting Room Manager
Immersed in hospitality from the start of her career, Kelsey began her journey as a hostess, later transitioning to serving and bartending at Earls. Following a move to Vancouver to pursue film school, she continued working as a server, bartender and then assistant bar manager at Cactus Club. During this time, she discovered a passion for wine, which led her to obtain WSET Level 1 and 2 certifications. In 2021, Kelsey relocated to the scenic Okanagan. Since then, she has delighted guests as part of a tasting room management team, offering exceptional experiences and sharing her wine knowledge. Simultaneously, she pursued further education, completing Levels 1 and 2 of the BC Wine Ambassador course. In 2023, Kelsey joined Township 7 as our Naramata Bench Tasting Room Manager, bringing her enthusiasm and experience to our team. Continuing her dedication to personal growth, Kelsey recently completed her Business Administration Marketing Diploma. In her leisure time, you can find her exploring the stunning Okanagan outdoors, hiking, golfing, or paddleboarding.
Naramata Bench
Rory
Director of Barketing
An Australian Shepherd, Rory is from the Similkameen and was adopted in 2021. Her favourite activities are running in the vineyard, chasing her ball (and our chickens!), playing in the snow, and accompanying Mary to work to hang out with the gang.
Stop by our Naramata Bench winery and meet our furry sweetheart!