HUNDREDS of bottles of wine from around the nation have been uncorked this week for wine tasting at the 136th Rutherglen Wine Show held in the Henderson Pavillion.

Four days of judging in the longest running wine show in Australia started on Monday and finished yesterday, with the Australian Fortified Wine Show running alongside as one of the biggest in the nation.

Show committee chair Chris Pfeiffer from Pfeiffer Wines said 1000 entries had been received, including 130 fortified wines.

Calabria Family Wines and McWilliams senior wine maker, a wine judge and highly respected wine experts in the industry, Russell Cody is chairman of judges for the first time at this year’s show.

Mr Cody said on Tuesday the Semillon had been a highlight with chardonnays and rieslings to be judged on the day.

“Shiraz was judged yesterday with some delicious shiraz having a lot of structure and poise,” he said.

“We also judged a lot of the Iberian varieties, such as Tempranillo Touriga, which is synonymous to this region within the Portuguese style of wines.

“And some of those as dry reds were magnificent.”

Mr Cody said wine shows have significantly helped to improve the quality of Australian wines over the past few decades with wine flavours evolving over that time.

He said it’s harder to judge now as all the wines have improved, but judges are well experienced in their fields.

"Judges look for more lighter, delicate wines, and they have to fit that in with all the different styles, so it's a much different to judge but it's a lot more fun," he said.

"Entries have gone up by 25 for the Australian fortified wine show year which is fantastic.

"This year we have nine judges and nine associate judges in three panels."

Mr Pfeiffer said the committee is pleased with this year’s entries holding the show’s numbers

“We’ve been undertaking considerable work on improving the Australian fortified wine show which is already is the best in Australia to draw more exhibitors,” he said.

“With their beautiful flavours and complexities, it also helps maintain the standards in the wines too and they’re not forgotten."

Mr Pfeiffer said the show has an education component with master classes including training up judges who don't see fortified wines.

With the shows incredibly long history, Mr Pfeiffer said he and the committee are custodians to keep the tradition going.

An exhibitors tasting is being held on Thursday, September 26 from 10am to 3pm at the Henderson Pavilion while a presentation dinner is being held on the evening from 6.30pm to 11pm at Tuileries Restaurant.

A public tasting follows on Friday, September 27 from 6.30pm to 10pm.

For more information and bookings visit www.rutherglenwineshow.com.au.