Puente Josefa Winery: Gold Medal Wines and Timeless Friendships

By Frank "Sugar" Hudson.

On a cloudy afternoon in San Miguel de Allende, three old friends rallied after a long week of running errands and navigating the gentle rhythm of retirement. The car was filled with the quiet anticipation of adventure as we set out for Puente Josefa. Located in Candelaria, just seven minutes from Centro, the winery is cradled by rolling hills of blooming mesquite trees swaying in the breeze.

Puente Josefa is a boutique vineyard spanning 7.5 acres, producing handcrafted, artisanal wines from French, Spanish, and Californian grape varieties. The wines draw their character from the region’s rich volcanic soil, proving entirely worthy of the name Josefa—which translates to “God will add.”

Josefa and her husband, Doug Henning, are the owners and winemakers. Their enthusiasm was contagious, instantly sparking fond memories of days spent sharing dreams over glasses of wine. Doug, a former doctor from the United States, built the vineyard as his retirement dream after a lifetime of loving fine wines.

“I come from the wine-growing regions of California,” Doug explained. “When I picked up a handful of dirt on our property here in Candelaria, I told Josefa, ‘This soil is just like Napa Valley’s.’ Dreams happen. We started with 1,000 vines in 2008 that needed lots of love and water. Today, we’re proud to say we are producing gold-medal wine alongside our oenologist, Agostina, who hails from Mendoza. So, from Josefa in her red polka-dot bikini—that’s another story—to our recent international awards, it has always been, and will always be, a love story.”

As we walked through the vineyard, we reminisced about youthful escapades, each story punctuated by laughter. Walter, a passionate photographer, took the lead—capturing the stunning landscape and the intricate details of the property to share with his followers. The timing of our visit was perfect. Just the day before our stroll, a team of ten had brought in a 1.5-ton harvest of Tempranillo grapes measuring 24 Brix—a promising sugar level that signaled a rewarding bottling ahead for Doug and Josefa.

After wandering through the winding subterranean tunnel where the wines age, we reached the dark, atmospheric underground tasting room. We settled in to sample their lineup, including their recent gold-medal winner from the prestigious Bacchus competition in Spain. Each sip of the rich, velvety wine sparked deeper conversations about life, love, and the winding paths we had all taken since our youth.

As the afternoon slipped away, casting a mellow glow over the cellar, we raised our glasses in a toast to friendship—honoring old memories while looking forward to new adventures.

Surrounded by the beauty of San Miguel de Allende, we felt a deep sense of connection and gratitude for bonds that weather the test of time.

With recent honors including a Gold Medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, seeing Doug and Josefa’s dream recognized on the world stage was immensely satisfying.

For us, tasting these handcrafted wines was a special treat—a celebration of the “Gold Medal Friendships” forged on quiet afternoon winery tours in San Miguel.

This was our second visit to Puente Josefa, and a third is already in the works. It is an experience best lived firsthand.

To arrange a private tour and tasting, call Douglas directly at +52 415 151 4798 for reservations.