Silversea Names Renowned Italian Wine Producer Gaia Gaja as Godmother of New Ship, Silver Moon

(9 p.m. ET) -- Silversea Cruises has named renowned Italian wine producer Gaia Gaja as godmother to Silver Moon, which launches in August.

Gaja is the fifth generation to own and run the renowned winery in the small Italian town of Barbaresco -- a family-run business and iconic producer of fine Italian wine since 1859.

She will officially name Silver Moon at a ceremony in Trieste on August 5, 2020.

The news was revealed at a special media dinner in New York tonight, attended by Gaja and Silversea's chief marketing officer, Barbara Muckermann.

"I feel great pride and honour to have been selected by Silversea Cruises as the Godmother of the beautiful Silver Moon," said Gaja. "I passionately believe that food and drink facilitate profound discovery -- into destinations, 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 wine making has taught me that culinary discovery possesses limitless potential; here's to the curious travellers who seek to unlock it."

Today, along with her two siblings, Gaja owns and runs the vineyard in Barbaresco, which has fostered an internationally acclaimed reputation as a leading producer of fine Italian wines.

S.A.L.T. (Sea & Land Taste) is Silversea's food and drink programme designed to get help passengers delve deeper into a country’s heritage, cuisine and culture.

A key aspect of the programme will be to invite culinary and drink experts like Gaja onboard to use storytelling and food and wine demonstrations to form meaningful connections between passengers, places, cultures, and communities.

S.A.L.T. launches on Silver Moon on August 6.

"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," says Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Silversea's Executive Chairman. "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."