Ted Richards wrote: I don't know Muscadet, Sancerre or the reds much at all..
How long have you got? Muscadet and Sancere are a long way apart, at opposite ends of the Loire wine region. As the varieties grown change as you progress along the Loire unless you have plenty of time consider your interests and prioritise.
We went for a week with a wine club by coach so we could taste along the way and buy wine to bring home. We started inland at Sancerre and worked our way down river but we didn't get to the coast and Muscadet country.
Among names mentioned by others, Henri Bourgeois
www.henribourgeois.com/en/ was interesting, in the one street village of Chavignol (village famous for its cheese). Henri Bourgeois makes Sancerre, Pouilly Fume and Pinot Noir and also own a winery in Marlborough, NZ making Sauvignon Blanc there so they are quite open mided.
We visited Fillatreau
www.filliatreau.com for a tasting in their large cellar carved out of chalk cliffs. Good Cabernet Franc, I bought a lot.
We enjoyed Vouvray for its still Chenin and sparkling. When I started with wine Vouvray was as famous as Champagne, but that isn't so any more, but their fizz from Chenin is delicious, fruitier and without the harsh acidity found in young cheap Champagne. I bought a case after a tasting at Chateau L'Aulee
http://laulee.com/?lang=enWe visited Domaine du Closel
www.savennieres-closel.com/?lang=en where owner/winemaker/viticulturist Evelyne de Pontbriand took us to her old bushvine Chenin vineyard and insisted vehemently that she didn't make Chenin wine, -- no, she made Savennières !!