Two Italian ministers defended themselves yesterday against calls for their resignation after 16 people died from drinking adulterated wine. The Health Minister, Mr Costante Degan, and the Agriculture Minister, Mr Filippo Maria Pandolfi, told Parliament that the Government had done everything in its power to combat the spread of wine illegally strengthened with methyl (wood) alcohol. But they admitted that the scandal affecting some of Italy's most prestigious northern wine growing areas had struck a severe blow at one of the most vital sectors of the country's agriculture with grave repercussions for exports.