Editing Muscat (grape) (section)

== Characteristic aromas and confusion with other grapes ==
[[File:Moscato d'asti 2.jpg|right|thumb|The characteristic floral, "grapey" aroma of Muscat can be seen in wines such as ''Moscato d'Asti'', made in a winemaking style that emphasizes the varietal aromas of the grape, rather than aromas derived from winemaking processes like oak aging or autolysis on the lees]]
Despite the vast diversity in the Muscat family, one common trait that can be seen in almost all Muscat members is the characteristic floral, "[[grape]]y" [[aroma note]] that is caused by the high concentration of [[monoterpenes]] in the grapes. More than 40 different monoterpenes have been discovered in Muscat grapes (as well as in other aromatic varieties like [[Riesling]] and [[Gewürztraminer]]); these include [[citronellol]], [[geraniol]], [[linalool]] and [[nerol]]. This characteristic "musk" aroma can be best observed in [[body (wine)|light bodied]], low [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] wines such as [[Moscato Asti]] which have not had their [[bouquet (wine)|bouquet]] heavily influenced by other winemaking techniques like [[oak aging]], [[autolysis (wine)|autolysis]] with [[yeast (wine)|yeast]], [[malolactic fermentation]] or [[fortification (wine)|fortification]].<ref name="Oxford"/>

However, this common "musky" (French: ''musqué'') trait has caused some confusion as varieties that are wholly unrelated to the Muscat family are often erroneously associated with Muscat grapes (often by naming and synonyms) due to their aromatic character. These include the [[German wine]] grape [[Morio Muskat]] which, despite its name, is not related to the Muscat family and is, instead, a crossing of [[Silvaner]] x [[Pinot blanc]]. Likewise, the highly aromatic clonal [[mutation (vine)|mutation]] of several wine grape varieties such as [[Sauvignon blanc]], [[Chasselas]] and [[Chardonnay]] are often suffixed with ''Musqué'' which can add confusion to their relationship with the Muscat family.<ref name="Oxford"/> Additionally, the [[Bordeaux wine]] grape [[Muscadelle]] that is used for both sweet and [[dry wines]] is often mistaken for a Muscat variety due to its aromatic qualities.<ref name="Wine Grapes"/> While made from a more aromatically neutral grape, [[Melon de Bourgogne]] grape, the [[Loire wine]] [[Muscadet]] is sometimes mistakenly believed to be made from a member of the Muscat family.<ref name="Clarke"/>

Lastly, the Muscat grape can be confused (in name only; the grapes themselves are quite different) with [[Vitis rotundifolia]], which is commonly known as a "[[muscadine]]" grape.