What’s the Difference Between Muscat, Moscatel, and Moscato?

If you are a wine lover, you have probably heard of varieties like Muscat, Moscatel, and Moscato. Although the names sound very similar, each of these white wines has its own unique characteristics and origins. Let’s explore the differences between Muscat, Moscatel, and Moscato, and help you better understand which is the best option for your tastes and preferences.

Muscat, Moscatel, and Moscato: same but different, right? The answer is both simple and complex, like many wine-related topics. The short answer is that all these grapes come from the same Muscat family, one of the oldest and most widely planted grape families in the world. The Muscat variety dates back to Roman times and is closely associated with having developed in Mediterranean climates. As we have noted here in the Bottle Barn blog before, “This family of grapes includes over 200 varieties.”

Indeed, in part because of its ancient heritage, the variations within the Muscat family seem endless, from wine styles to sweetness levels, grape skin colorations, and more. Notably, the French Muscadelle grape, most commonly associated with Bordeaux, is not related to the Muscat grape family.

As the Oxford Companion to Wine notes, “since a high proportion of the world’s Muscat is dark-berried, and since a wide variety of wood-ageing techniques are used, such wines can vary in colour from palest gold (as in some of the more determinedly modern Muscats de Frontignan) to deepest brown (as in some of Australia’s sweet, fortified Muscats).”

These grapes are all highly aromatic and so are the resulting wines, which you should keep in mind when you buy wine.

Muscat

Muscat refers to a broad family of grapes used to produce both sweet and dry wines. Two common varieties are Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria, known for their floral and fruity aromas. Muscat wines can be found in regions such as France, where they produce fortified wines like Vin Doux Naturel by enriching them with a neutral spirit to concentrate the sweetness. In Australia, it is also used to make sweet and fortified wines.

The two most common varieties of Muscat are Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (Muscat Blanc) and Muscat of Alexandria. The first, as implied, usually has white skins and produces both dry and sweet wines. Muscat/Moscatel of Alexandria grapes tend to be larger and darker than Muscat Blanc and are best known for producing concentrated sweet wines.

These grapes are most commonly associated with southern France, particularly with the Rivesaltes, Beaumes-de-Venise, and Frontignan denominations. Here, the Moscatel grapes are often enriched with a neutral spirit to create Vin Doux Naturel, the sweet, flavorful, and high-ABV wine of the region. Muscat is also used in the production of sweet fortified wines in Rutherglen, Australia, as well as in parts of Greece. You will also find this grape in cooler Alsace, such as in the 2022 Meyer-Fonne Granite de Katz Muscat.

Moscatel

Moscatel is the name for the Muscat variety in Spain and Portugal. It generally refers to Muscat of Alexandria and is grown in regions such as Málaga, Alicante, and Valencia in Spain, where it is used to produce sweet wines. In Portugal, Moscatel is used in the production of sweet Madeira wines. In general, Moscatel refers to sweet vinified wines.

Want to try Moscatel when you order wine online? Try the 2021 Botani Malaga Moscatel Old Vines, for example.

Moscato

Moscato is the Italian version of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and is primarily used in the production of sweet wines in the Piedmont region of Italy. Unlike fortified wines, Moscato is vinified by cooling the wine before fermentation finishes, resulting in a wine with low alcohol content and a slight sparkle.

Although Muscat, Moscatel, and Moscato all belong to the same grape family, each has distinctive characteristics and styles. From dry to sweet wines, with floral and fruity aromas, the variety within the Muscat family is endless. Each region has its own traditions and winemaking techniques that result in unique wines with distinct flavor profiles.

In Italy, Moscato (Muscat Blanc/Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains) is the backbone of a well-established sweet wine industry, particularly in the Piedmont region. Consider, for example, the 2023 La Caudrina Moscato d'Asti or the 2022 Saracco Moscato d'Asti.

Unlike the fortified wines of France and Spain, Moscato is vinified using a different technique that involves cooling the wine before fermentation is complete in steel. This leaves an abundance of sugar in the wine, which, due to the halting of fermentation, has a low ABV (usually around 5 to 5.5%). Italian Moscato is often bottled with a bit of carbon dioxide, creating a light but pleasant effervescence in the wines. Chile also produces sweet Moscato wines.

How to Compare Muscat, Moscatel, and Moscato

The thread connecting all these expressions of Moscatel is their deep aromas, which are quite similar. While the detailed notes will vary from one producer to another, Muscat Blanc and Moscatel wines often display notes of orange blossom, red apple peel, and honeysuckle, while Moscato-based wines generally feature intense notes with floral hints of tangerine, pear, and rose petals, despite their light and airy palate. If you like aromatic white wine, consider trying several of the Muscat family members the next time you order wine delivery.

In summary, all these wines are made from grapes of the Muscat family and are known for their high aromatic tones. What distinguishes them is where they are made and the styles associated with each of these places, as well as the detailed tasting notes and final ABVs of the wines. Lastly, keep in mind that fortified French Moscatel and Spanish Moscatel have a long aging potential, while Italian Moscato is meant to be consumed upon release.