Hailed by many as the ‘Queen of Barbaresco,’ Gaia Gaja has been named as the Godmother of Silversea’s new ultra-luxury ship Silver Moon. Gaja is of the fifth generation to own and manage the renowned Gaja winery in the small Italian town of Barbaresco a family run business and iconic producer of fine Italian wine since 1859. As the ship’s Godmother, Gaja will be honoured with officially naming Silver Moon at a dedicated ceremony in Trieste on 5 August 2020.
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 and Rey Chardonnay—before she learned to walk. Today, along with her two siblings, Gaja is a guardian of her family’s illustrious legacy, which has fostered an internationally acclaimed reputation as a leading producer of fine Italian wines. A knowledgeable purveyor of her craft, elegant, and with an unwavering commitment to exceptional quality, Gaia Gaja embodies the core values of Silversea Cruises. Moreover, the success of the Gaja Winery is predicated on a longstanding synergy between traditional knowledge and pioneering innovation, which stands true for the leading ultra-luxury cruise line.
“I feel great pride and honour to have been selected by Silversea Cruises as the Godmother of the beautiful Silver Moon,” says Gaia 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.”
Gaja’s deeply-rooted connection with Italian culinary culture makes her the perfect choice for Silver Moon’s Godmother, as Silversea’s pioneering 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, Silver Moon’s S.A.L.T. 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. As well as foods and flavours, people will define Silversea’s pioneering new culinary programme: culinary experts—like Gaja—from around the world will use storytelling to form meaningful connections between Silversea’s curious guests and the world’s most remarkable places, cultures, and communities.
“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.”
