After a successful debut last year, Rutherglen in the City will run on a bigger scale on September 22 and 23.

It will feature a pop-up wine and cocktail bar alongside 17 winery cellar doors at The Atrium in Federation Square.

Winemakers of Rutherglen chairman Rowly Milhinch said the bigger venue was needed after the popularity of the first event.

“It was an intimate event in an alleyway last year; it got so busy we had to upscale this year,” he said.

“There’s a real hunger for Rutherglen and the North East in general; there is a real affinity for our market in Melbourne.”

For $5, visitors can wander through a curated cellar door set-up and taste wines from 17 producers, including cellar door exclusives.

Visitors can try Rutherglen Muscat cocktails (Muscat Nouveau Spritz and Hip Sip Muscat Fruit Cup) and enjoy a bite to eat from Melbourne food trucks such as Happy Camper Pizza and Beatbox Kitchen.

Mr Milhinch said the event allowed Melburnians to enjoy traditional and contemporary styles of Rutherglen wines.

“There is an emerging market for what Rutherglen is about in a traditional and contemporary sense,” he said.

The wineries will showcase Rutherglen Muscat, durifs, sparkling reds and alternative aromatic whites such as marsanne, viognier, roussanne and ugni blanc.

Participating wineries include All Saints Estate, Morris Wines, Andrew Buller Wines, Pfeiffer Wines, Buller Wines, Rutherglen Estates, Campbells Wines, Scion, Chambers Rosewood Winery, Stanton & Killeen Wines, Cofield Wines, St Leonards Vineyard, John Gehrig Wines, Valhalla Wines, Jones Winery & Vineyard, Warrabilla Wines and Lake Moodemere Estate.