Comparison
Furmint vs Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
How Furmint and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains has more floral character; Furmint has more acidity; Furmint has more body.
Choose
Furmint
Choose Furmint if you want something fresher and more acidic, fuller and richer, more oaky.
Choose
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Choose Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains if you want something more floral, more aromatic, fruitier.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is more floral: high against low.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Furmint is fresher and more acidic: high against medium.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Furmint is fuller and richer: medium-plus against low-medium.
Aromatic intensity
Clear differenceHow strongly the wine smells before it is tasted. Some grapes are intrinsically aromatic; others express mainly on the palate.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is more aromatic: high against medium.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Furmint is more oaky: medium against low.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is fruitier: high against medium-plus.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Sweetness: Similar — both medium.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
- Earthy character: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Furmint | Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains |
|---|---|---|
| Floral character | low (1/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Acidity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Body | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | low-medium (2/5) |
| Spice | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Texture | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Sweetness | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 12–15°C | 9–12°C |
| Typical flavours | quince, green apple, lime, smoke, beeswax | grape, orange blossom, elderflower, peach, rose |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Furmint
Hungary’s great white variety: high in acid, smoky and structured, and the backbone of both dry Tokaji and Tokaji Aszú.
Grape
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The finest member of the Muscat family, and one of very few varieties whose wine actually smells of grapes.
Comparison
Furmint vs Riesling
Both are made across the full range from bone-dry to intensely sweet, and both are famous for acidity — so which one does what.