Our Story

Staci Wanichek, our CEO, and her mom, Cheryl, first introduced Wine Away® to the world over 25 years ago — though it didn’t start as a red wine stain remover.

“Originally, the product was designed to be an all-purpose cleaner and degreaser. But at the time, so was everything else,” says Wanichek. “We shelved it and gave bottles to friends and family just to use up the batch. After a few months, people started telling us it worked surprisingly well on red wine — and even pet accidents.”

Realizing there was nothing on the market specifically designed to tackle red wine stains, they went back to the lab. After months of testing and feedback from friends and family, they landed on a formula that stood out — one that removed red wine from fabrics and carpet without the use of bleach.

Then came the turning point: Wanichek reached out to an editor at Food & Wine magazine. He asked for a sample bottle, so she grabbed a Sharpie, scribbled her name and phone number on a blank bottle, and sent it off — no label, no frills, just hope.

A week later, he called back. They’d tested it in the Food & Wine test kitchen and said it worked “great on white carpet and linens.” He told her it would be featured in their next issue.

Two weeks later, the name Wine Away® was born. The label design you see today? Nearly identical to the original — only the bottle has changed.

That single mention sparked national attention and transformed a small idea into a trusted essential in homes, bridal suites, and wine lovers’ routines across the country.

Today, Evergreen Labs remains a proudly women- and family-owned business. Staci continues to lead the company’s domestic and global strategy with heart, vision, and grit — guiding the brand’s growth both at home and globally. Cheryl is now happily retired — though she still pops in for special projects and cheers from the sidelines.

The brand has evolved, but the story — and the beloved formula — remain just as true. What started as a simple idea is now a trusted essential in homes, bridal suites, and wine lovers’ lives everywhere.