Silversea has revealed winery owner and manager Gia Gaja as godmother of Silver Moon, launching in August 2020.

Gaja is the fifth generation to own and manage the Gaja winery in the small Italian town of Barbaresco, a family-run business and producer of Italian win since 1859. As the ship’s godmother, she will be honoured with officially naming Silver Moon at a ceremony in Trieste on 5 August 2020.

She said: “I feel great pride and honour to have been selected by Silversea Cruises as the godmother of the beautiful Silver Moon. I passionately believe that food and drink facilitate profound discovery – into destination, cultures and people – and that guests will nurture strong connections with amazing destinations as a result of S.A.L.T., the ship’s innovative culinary offering.

“My own experience with winemaking has taught me that culinary discovery possesses limitless potential; here’s to the curious travellers who seek to unlock it.”

From an early age, Gaja was encouraged to take an interest in all aspects of the winemaking process and even had a wine named in her honour—Gaia & Rey Chardonnay—before she learned to walk.

Today, along with her two siblings, Gaja is a guardian of her family’s legacy, which has fostered an internationally acclaimed reputation as a leading producer of fine Italian wine.

Silversea has said that Gaja’s deeply-rooted connection with Italian culinary culture makes her the perfect choice for Silver Moon’s godmother, as Silversea’s new culinary concept, S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste), will launch with the ship on 6 August 2020.

Adapting with each sailed region, the programme will elevate the role of food and drink as a means to travel deeper into a destination, by showcasing entire ecosystems around the culinary cultures of the world. In the S.A.L.T. Kitchen, the S.A.L.T. Lab, and the S.A.L.T. Bar, guests will develop an appreciation for regional ingredients and culinary customs, before venturing ashore under the guidance of experts to experience food and drink cultures first-hand.

Silversea’s executive chairman, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, said: “Our new S.A.L.T. programme reflects our commitment to engaging with the places we travel through the lens of food, wine and culinary culture.

“Given this culinary focus and Silver Moon’s proud Italian heritage, I can’t think of a better godmother than Gaia Gaja who personifies Italian elegance, innovation and good taste. Like our cruise line, Gaia represents a lineage of excellence rooted in tradition and propelled by a forward-thinking, restless pursuit of innovation. I’m delighted she’ll be involved as Godmother, sharing her family’s vision of great taste as we begin this new journey aboard Silver Moon.”