To be honest, I’d long been unsure about ‘fractional ownership’. But that was before I discovered Castello di Casole. It was nearing high noon when we arrived at the 4,200-acre estate near Siena, hungry and tired from our early flight out of Gatwick. Fortunately, as soon as we pulled up to our own villa-for-the-weekend, San Regolo, my concerns were swept aside – much like my baggage, which was instantly taken to the bedroom of my choosing (from the three massive and beautifully appointed ones on offer). Within a quarter of an hour our private chef, working in the villa’s fully-stocked kitchen, had laid out a sumptuous Tuscan feast: pasta, mozzarella, antipasti and a colourful selection of fruit. We let our lunch settle while lying poolside, gazing upon the rolling, olive-green Tuscan hills.

Soon afterward, our appointed concierge came over to welcome us. ‘Is there anything you would like?’ he asked. To which we replied, ‘Yes, actually – would it be possible to enjoy a bike ride?’ His-and-hers mountain bikes, complete with matching helmets, were delivered no more than an hour later.

Such is life on the sumptuous-yet-authentic Castello di Casole estate, a fractional ownership development run by Timbers Resorts, an American resort company. Previously owned for centuries by the noble Bargagli family of Siena, the estate produced grapes, olives, wheat and sunflowers until the 1900s. Today, its sprawling, undulating grounds are dotted with beautiful farmhouses whose exteriors respect tradition, even as their interiors offer all the comforts of modern living: Frette bathrobes, plasma screens (with satellite TV) and mosaic- and glass-tiled bathrooms. Timbers Resorts also offers a reciprocal usage scheme which gives owners at Castello di Casole the chance to exchange weeks in Tuscany for visits to other Timbers Resorts properties, including Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and The Orchard at The Carneros Inn in Napa, California.

At Castello di Casole, each self-contained villa is privately owned by 10 to 12 families, who alternate in their use. These families, hailing from America, South America and all over Europe, have made a savvy investment choice: prices have already risen sharply, and their freehold shares can be sold on the open market. In addition, for those who like their properties to earn their keep, Timbers Resorts can manage rentals down to every last detail (for a 40 per cent commission).

It’s easy – and often justifiable – to be a bit snobbish about fractional ownership, but in this case the impeccable style and sweeping beauty of Castello di Casole, in keeping with local tradition, presents a powerful counter-argument. Besides, when holidaying with family and friends in such an idyllic setting, do you really want to worry about cleaning your pool, paying the electricity bill and doing the food shopping when you arrive, tired and laden with bags? Whereas at Castello di Casole, the brilliant concierge and management staff will bring out your china and place your family photos before you arrive, making you forget that anyone but you has ever lived there.

Up a hill, at the end of a cypress-lined lane, sits the Villa Sant’ Antonio, a sort of village within the estate. This collection of hilltop villas is located close to the main castle building and overlooks the estate’s largest vineyard, with views to Mensano and Casole d’Elsa. A five-star, 41-suite boutique hotel – including a world-class spa and Michelin-quality restaurant – is scheduled to open in the castle in summer 2011. Its manicured private gardens will provide a communal gathering point for owners, as well as a place to meet and entertain friends and guests you wish to ‘take out’ for the night. Moreover, the hotel’s proximity will surely prove a boon to property prices on the estate. During the ’50s and ’60s the castle was home to Luchino Visconti, a renowned Italian filmmaker, who lived there with his brother and Austrian actor Helmut Berger, of Godfather III. Visconti lived lavishly, and was rumoured to have housed his many mistresses in the estate’s surrounding villas.

As yet an additional enticement to prospective owners, Castello di Casole recently launched its own Vintners Club. The estate’s vineyards, bar and cellar are overseen by the aristocratic Count Piero Incisa della Rocchetta, whose family vineyard is the legendary Sassicaia, the greatest of the Super Tuscans. By joining the Vintners Club, estate partners receive a yearly allocation of the Private Reserve Dodici, each bottle’s label inscribed with the name of their own villa.

There could be one major problem with the fractional ownership scheme at Castello di Casole, though. What with your own wine label, concierge, chef, surroundings of legendary natural beauty and some of the best dining in the region, you might be hard-pressed to leave in time for the arrival of your co-owners.

 

Castello di Casole is a five-star resort and luxury residence club in Tuscany, Italy, featuring fractional and whole-ownership opportunities in restored farmhouses. It is situated 20 minutes west of Siena, 45 minutes southwest of Florence and 2½ hours northwest of Rome.

http://www.castellodicasole.com/