1200 wines judged over three intense days by an esteemed panel led by wine commentator James Halliday were whittled down two weeks ago.

Chief judge Halliday was joined by WA winemaking guru Vanya Cullen, Gary Baldwin and Kate Goodman as panel judges as part of the 31st Wine Show of Western Australia.

All up, 63 WA wines were awarded gold medals in 2008, and they form the finalists for 17 prestigious trophies to be handed out at the gala awards dinner tonight at the Hyatt.

The Great Southern and Margaret River regions featured prominently in the gold medals awarded, while the Geographe, Blackwood, Pemberton and Perth Hills regions also attracted gold medal winners.

Last year's wine of the year, the exquisite 2004 Houghton Jack Mann Cabernet Sauvignon, again received a gold medal and will go into the 2008 awards dinner a firm favourite.

The winery's crafty winemaking and consistent ripe fruit proved popular with the judges again, with gold medals awarded to five of its wines.

Other major players in WA also did well, with Sandalford receiving four gold medals, and Cape Mentelle, Goundrey and Evans & Tate three.

Boutique producers were not forgotten, with the Porongorups' Castle Rock Estate and Harris River Estate in Geographe each picking up two gold medals, while a host of new entrants made the gold medallists' circle.