THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC GIORGIO NAPOLITANO HAS RESIGNED. THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE MAURIZIO MARTINA SAID "THANK YOU FOR 9 YEARS OF TOTAL ALLEGIANCE TO THE REPUBLIC" AND THE TIME YOU CAME TO VINITALY, AND THE MEETING WITH CITTÀ DEL VINO...

“Thank you, President Napolitano for these nine years of total dedication to the Italian Republic. Thank you for your determination, foresight and authority, which in recent years have been the guarantee of a solid anchor, especially in the difficult passages of Italy’s history. President Napolitano, you have wisely pointed the way to new generations who seek redemption and opportunities and have always found you to be an encouraging reference. Personally, I want to thank you for the great contribution and enthusiasm you have always offered in support of Expo Milano 2015. You followed the preparation step by step of this event that will put Italy at the center of the world on an issue as crucial as food security. The entire country expresses its gratitude and all the Italians accept your invitation for hope and confidence in the future”.
These are the words of the Minister of Agriculture Maurizio Martina, who “saluted” the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, when he announced his resignation from the Quirinale, the Presidential Palace.
During his two terms (especially the first), Napolitano repeatedly devoted attention to the wine world. In 2010, during the first visit of an Italian head of state to Vinitaly, he praised the event in Verona as well as the entire industry, saying, “at one time there were regions of wine, today wine is excellent in all of Italy’s regions. Wine is a symbol of our strong traditions, history, culture and work. And it is also the symbol of the strength of diversity in unity, because differences are fundamental to not risk picking up identities that do not belong to us. They are points of comparison and stimuli that drive the whole system, in synergy, to improve. And with this unity, the Italian wine world must move together to not lose the positions of excellence it has conquered as well as to win new ones”.
His words were somewhat prophetic, considering the continuing success and record exports of Italian wine, from then to today.
Napolitano also showed his ironic side, by supporting the idea of a bottle of wine to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, launched by the President of VeronaFiere, Ettore Riello. Napolitano called it "a beautiful idea, that I shall support without even claiming the right to the first drink!" (http://goo.gl/I6Vy9C). He also hosted the Italian wine world in his "home".
In 2008, the Citta’ del Vino went to the Presidential Palace (WineNews was represented by Federico Pizzinelli and Ema Lucherini), to ask for his support, which he readily granted, to nominate the year 2009 the European Year of wine tourism. It is a moment we cherish and are happy to remember in this "amarcord" video (http://goo.gl/9Xl5zH).