Patricia Aranguren Moliner, Assistant Manager in the International Business Advisory team at Dezan Shira & Associates’ Europe Desk, recently concluded a business development visit to Sofia, Bulgaria, where she delivered a speech at the hybrid seminar “China’s Wine Market: A Guide for Exporters” on 29 September 2026.
The event was organised by the EU SME Centre, with which Dezan Shira & Associates has maintained a longstanding cooperation, together with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Centre for Promoting Agricultural Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECC/APACCCEEC). The seminar brought together European SMEs, business support organisations, trade promotion bodies, diplomatic representatives, and public institutions interested in China’s wine market.
Patricia led the session “Market Access and Requirements for Imported Wine”, offering practical guidance on essential steps for entering the Chinese market, including partner checks, shipping, customs registration, taxation, labelling, and protection of intellectual property.
The session was further supported by recent China Briefing coverage of the sector, including “China’s Wine Market in 2026: What the Data Show for European and International Producers” and “Exporting Wine to China in 2026: Market Access and Strategies for European Producers”. Together, the articles examine China’s changing wine import landscape, evolving demand patterns, tariff considerations, registration requirements, and updated labelling standards for exporters.
As part of the wider Bulgaria visit, Patricia also held meetings with local professional services partners, including Vassilev & Partners Law Firm, part of the ETL GLOBAL network, as well as the InvestBulgaria Agency, Bulgaria’s national investment promotion agency. The meetings provided an opportunity to connect, exchange perspectives, and better understand local priorities concerning the internationalisation of Bulgarian SMEs, particularly in relation to market access, trade, investment, and business expansion into Asia.
Looking back on the visit, Patricia highlighted:
“This visit reinforced how much potential there is in connecting Bulgarian businesses with Asian markets. We look forward to continuing the conversation with our partners in the region and helping more SMEs turn that ambition into a concrete expansion plan”.
Dezan Shira & Associates’ Presence in Europe
Incorporated in Munich in January 2021, Dezan Shira & Associates’ European presence serves as a first point of contact for European companies seeking to do business in Asia. In our Munich and Milan offices, our Europe-based team works with a variety of partners to help businesses understand the economic performance and regulatory environments of developing Asian economies.
